September 1, 2025
Al Benson, National Program Manager
We’re all hearing and reading about the coming health cost increases that businesses and employees will be facing next year. Due to rising health claim costs, higher provider charges and more expensive drugs, insurance actuaries are projecting health premium cost increases of +9% or more for health plans in 2026. Business of all sizes and individuals and families are concerned about how to get ahead of these increases.
Take Control of Rising Health Costs –
The Dealer Benefits Program is happy to announce a new benefit solution with cost controls, tax advantages and flexibility for Dealers who want make health coverage available through their businesses, even if you’ve never done so or are facing cost and coverage issues renewing your current health arrangement.
Get Ready Now for 2026 Health Benefits Decisions –
It’s called ICHRA – Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement and has been gaining popularity among small employers all over the U.S. since it was introduced with new federal regulations in 2019.
Unlike traditional approaches to health benefits, ICHRA is a flexible, tax-advantaged option that lets businesses set their own budget for health benefits. Employees get to do their own shopping any time of year for individual and family health plans – the same federally qualified comprehensive major medical plans filed with state insurance departments each year and sold in the government health marketplaces. Employees get reimbursed through the ICHRA plan for their insurance premiums and their qualified medical expenses.
ICHRA plans are available now to Dealers through our trusted benefits partner eHealth. For over a decade, eHealth has helped us provide leading benefit solutions for U-Haul Authorized Dealerships. Implementing an ICHRA plan through eHealth will let Dealers put a cap on their business health cost commitment. In addition, the ICHRA plan will simplify health insurance for your Dealer businesses through eHealth’s year-round plan administrative services to you and support to your employees.
🚀 Why Choose ICHRA?
Cost Control – Set your own budget and reimburse only what you can afford.
Employee Choice – Workers choose the health plan that fits their needs.
Tax-Free Reimbursements – No income or payroll tax on reimbursements.
No Participation Minimums – Offer benefits to one employee or many—no restrictions.
Flexible Eligibility – Customize by employee class, location, or status.
Scalable – ICHRA grows with your business—no renegotiation needed.
💰 How Employer Contributions Work
You decide how much to contribute—monthly, annually, or by employee class. There are no federal limits, and you can vary amounts based on:
• 👥 Employee class (e.g., full-time, part-time)
• 👨👩👧👦 Family size
• 🎂 Age (older employees can receive more)
Your contributions are:
• ✅ 100% tax-deductible
• ✅ Exempt from payroll taxes
• ✅ Predictable and budget-friendly
🛍️ How Employees Shop for Coverage
Employees use your ICHRA allowance to buy individual health insurance that suits them and their family best. They can shop:
• 🏛️ On our private health exchange
• 🏢 Directly from insurance carriers
• 🧓 Through Medicare (if eligible)
And thanks to ICHRA’s built-in Special Enrollment Period, employees can enroll any time of year—no need to wait for open enrollment.
🧾 Tax Advantages for Everyone
For Employers:
• ✅ Contributions are tax-deductible
• ✅ No payroll taxes on reimbursements
• ✅ No risk of high claims or renewal hikes
For Employees:
• ✅ Reimbursements are not taxable income
• ✅ Any additional premiums can be paid by pre-tax payroll deduction
• ✅ Personalized coverage means better value
🛠️ ICHRA Made Easy
Let eHealth help you launch an ICHRA solution for your business in just a few steps:
• ✅ Plan design consultation
• ✅ Compliance and documentation support
• ✅ Employee onboarding and education
• ✅ Ongoing administration and reporting
📞 Ready to Modernize Your Benefits?
If you’re finding it’s time to rethink how you care for your team, check out our new ICHRA plan for your businesses and U-Haul Dealership.
I hope you find the Dealer Benefits program works for your business and U-Haul Authorized Dealership.