15 Aug Benefit Plans Designed for Temporary Staffing Firms

The insurance landscape for carriers offering MEC (Minimum Essential Coverage) and MVP (Minimum Value Plan) has shifted significantly in recent months. With the closure of a key provider, Essential Staff Care, and the increasingly strict requirements from others, many in the temporary staffing industry seek reliable alternatives.

MEC plans help staffing firms avoid ACA penalties (especially the Part B penalty) while offering affordable coverage to eligible employees. These plans offer minimal administrative burden while helping control costs due to high turnover and variable hours.

Barrow Group is excited to introduce new innovative programs tailored specifically for the staffing industry. These plans are designed to meet the evolving needs of staffing agencies while balancing compliance, cost and attractiveness to employees.

Here are key features and benefits of the MEC and MVP plans we offer:

1. Basic MEC Plan (Preventive Only)

• Covers only preventive services required under ACA (e.g., vaccinations, screenings)
• Low cost (~$50 or less/month/employee)
• Compliant with ACA’s Individual Mandate (Part B)
• Pros: Lowest cost, but still ACA-compliant
• Cons: Doesn’t offer much value to employees beyond compliance

2. MEC + MVP (Minimum Value Plan)

• Includes MEC preventive benefits + covers 60%+ of expected medical costs
• Helps staffing firms avoid both ACA Penalties A and B
• Typically paired with a limited network or reference-based pricing
• Pros: Full ACA compliance
• Cons: Higher cost (~$200+ per month)

3. MEC with Added Value (MEC Plus or Enhanced MEC)

• MEC preventive care + limited outpatient services, Teladoc, prescriptions, etc.
• Still affordable
• Pros: More attractive to employees, better than just preventive
• Cons: Still not MVP; doesn’t protect against ACA Part A penalty

Why MEC and MVP plans are a good fit for staffing firms:

1. Sector-Specific Know‑How: They focus on staffing and temporary workforce employers. That means they’re familiar with weekly or short‑term onboarding models, turnover dynamics, and ACA compliance challenges.
2. Compliant Coverage: They explicitly list MEC and MVP offerings under employee benefits, implying they can put together packages that meet ACA thresholds—they know how to navigate 60% actuarial minimum value and affordability rules.
3. Risk & Benefit Integration: Because they handle both insurance and benefits, they can bundle risk management and compliance support—helpful if you’re balancing payroll, liability, and benefits under one roof.

For more than thirty years, Barrow Group has provided insurance solutions to the temporary staffing, PEO and film & television industries. Our tailored solutions include workers’ compensation, liability, risk management and employee benefits. We’ve built our brokerage around the nuances of high-turnover staffing, which means fewer “explaining staffing dynamics” headaches for you.

If you’d like more information on these programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at:   bbarrow@barrowgroup.com or 800-874-4798

We look forward to helping you navigate this new landscape with confidence.