A Section 125 Premium Only Plan (POP) allows employees to pay their share of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars rather than after-tax income. By making this simple adjustment to payroll deductions, both employees and employers can realize significant tax savings.
Under a Premium Only Plan, employees elect to have their portion of health insurance premiums deducted from their pay before federal income taxes and, in most cases, Social Security and Medicare taxes are calculated. As a result, taxable wages are reduced, lowering tax liability for both the employee and the employer.
How Employees Benefit
Employees typically save between 20% and 40% on the portion of health insurance premiums paid through a Section 125 Plan, depending on their tax bracket and state of residence. Because premium contributions are made on a pre-tax basis:
- Federal income taxes are reduced.
- State and local income taxes may be reduced, where applicable.
- Social Security and Medicare taxes are generally reduced.
- Take-home pay increases without any increase in gross compensation.
These tax savings help make health insurance coverage more affordable for employees and their families.
How Employers Benefit
Employers also benefit from implementing a Section 125 Premium Only Plan because employee pre-tax deductions reduce taxable payroll. As a result, employers generally save on:
- Employer-paid Social Security taxes
- Employer-paid Medicare taxes
- Federal unemployment taxes (FUTA), in certain situations
- State unemployment taxes, where applicable
Depending on state law, some employers may also experience reductions in workers’ compensation premiums due to lower taxable payroll. These savings can often offset or exceed the cost of establishing and maintaining the plan.
A Section 125 Premium Only Plan is one of the simplest and most effective employee benefit strategies available, providing meaningful tax advantages for both employees and employers while helping make health insurance coverage more affordable.