Why Small Businesses Should Offer Ancillary Benefits to Their Employees

Last updated on May 7, 2026

The benefits of a healthy workforce are numerous. From increased productivity to reduced absenteeism and turnover, research shows routine, preventive care can lower a person’s medical costs in the long run. Preventive care and regular screenings for diagnoses like cancer, hypertension and heart disease are often covered under a company’s health insurance plan. But what about dental care and vision? They also require routine treatment and maintenance and in most cases are not a covered benefit. That’s why it’s important to offer your employees opportunities to customize their benefits with ancillary options that are important to them.

What are ancillary services?

Ancillary services are supplemental to a company’s group health insurance plan. They include services for dental, vision and life insurance and disability. SummaCare has partnered with Humana to offer ancillary products to groups enrolled with a Chamber Health Benefits medical plan.

Purchasing these benefits at a group level helps keep premiums reasonably priced. There are also pre-tax benefits (lower FICA contributions) for employers who take advantage of Section 125 of the IRS code. Costs can either be split between the employer and employee or covered wholly by one or the other. Utilizing consumer-directed Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) offer employees more control over their health care costs as well as tax savings on money allocated for medical expenses.

What ancillary plans are offered?

Dental:

• Offering Traditional Preferred, PPO or Preventive Plus plans.

Vision:

• Offering 3 plan options for exam and materials (glasses/contacts) and one Materials-only plan.    

Life Insurance:

• Three basic group life options. Voluntary Term Life options for Spouses and Dependents.

Long-Term and Short-Term Disability plans available.

Value-Added Benefits

For employer groups bundling products consisting of disability plus two or more lines (Dental, Vision, Life), Humana offers a complimentary Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Enjoy convenient integrated single billing, with your monthly SummaCare medical invoice including Humana billing. Members also receive a two-year rate guarantee on all Humana products, $0 copay teledentistry services, unlimited dental benefits and an extended annual maximum.

Who Administers the Plan?

Administration of the plan is handled directly by Humana for groups and members. Humana will provide benefit booklets (including plan information and I.D. cards) as well as customer support for all groups and members.

For questions about the Chamber Health Benefits Plan including Humana ancillary services, email SummaCare Group Sales at groupservice@summacare.com.