Will I get a higher hourly wage if I don’t need my company’s health insurance?

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Asked January 2, 2014

1 Answer


In most cases, declining health insurance offered by your company is unlikely to result in a higher hourly wage. The reason for this is that employer-provided health insurance is considered a fringe benefit and a part of the total compensation package that an employer offers to employees. Employers typically do not differentiate between employees who opt-in to the health insurance plan and those who opt-out when setting hourly wage rates. Instead, the cost of providing health insurance is factored into the overall cost of employing a worker. When an employee declines health insurance, the employer still has to pay the same amount of money towards the employee's compensation package, which includes wages, benefits, and other perks. In some cases, there may be exceptions to this general rule. For example, if an employer has a policy of offering a higher hourly wage rate to employees who opt-out of health insurance, then you may be eligible for this higher rate. However, such policies are relatively uncommon and can vary depending on the employer and industry. In summary, it is unlikely that declining health insurance offered by your company will result in a higher hourly wage rate, as the cost of providing health insurance is factored into the overall compensation package. However, if you have concerns or questions about your employer's policies, it is always a good idea to speak with your HR representative or supervisor.

Answered January 2, 2014 by Anonymous

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