Starbucks is one of the world’s largest and most important coffee shop chains. In the United States alone, there are 16,700 branches, and the number of employees working for the franchise is enormous. For this reason, the company founded in 1971 is obliged to contract insurance services to protect the integrity of its personnel and to insure its finances in case of legal disputes with any of them.
But what insurance does Starbucks offer? The coffee shop offers a wide range of options, including dental and vision coverage, general medical coverage and much more. But to access any of the available policies, we must comply with a series of requirements that we will explain throughout this article.
What kind of insurance does Starbucks offer?
If you are an employee of any of the Starbucks chains, you can access any of the following benefits:
- Medical, disability, accident, and life insurance: if you have chosen this life insurance, the company will cover expenses for hospitalization and purchase of prescription drugs. It protects you if you require office visits, x-rays, lab tests, mental health treatment, and emergency care.
- Oral and vision health insurance: The company also guarantees medical insurance for your dental and vision health, as long as you are an eligible member for this benefit. The best thing is that you can choose the coverage you want and the company you consider that will provide the best service. As for vision care, you’ll have access to eye exams, frames, lenses, and contact lenses.
- Extended insurance plans: Starbucks guarantees a health plan you can extend to your immediate family. The available options are Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA). Both guarantee health protection for dependents.
- Transgender protection: But Stabucks’ protection plan goes much further. It has joined the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The intention is to design indispensable health policies for this population, which would otherwise be considered cosmetic care in other circumstances.
- Disability Insurance: If a Starbucks employee has been accidentally disabled in performing his or her duties, he or she is entitled to disability insurance benefits. This policy will protect you against loss of income. But the best part is that short-, medium- and long-term coverage options exist.
Is Starbucks insurance free?
When a worker is eligible for Starbucks insurance policies, he or she is required to pay some of the premiums. For example, comprehensive coverages for specialized medical care range from $30 to $70 per month. Generally, the deductible guarantees payment of 70% of the policy but also offers specialized coverage, depending on the needs of each employee.
Accident and disability insurance is free, as long as eligible workers join the Short-Term Disability Plan. But there is also the Long Term Disability Plan, free of charge as long as eligible workers have completed the STD plan.
How do Starbucks insurance policies work?
If you are a part-time employee, you must work up to 240 hours for three months to qualify for Starbucks insurance. Likewise, you will have to work up to 20 hours per week if you work part-time shifts and wish to be enrolled in any of the policies.
The good news is that the coffee shop allows its workers to enroll at any time of the year. But the catch is that you must start operations at the company between June and August to apply.
When a worker can log in for the regular 240 hours in three months, he/she will get the health benefits package from the company. This package will be remitted on the first day of the month following enrollment. However, you will enjoy the benefits another month later. The company will give workers up to two weeks to choose the package that suits them best.
But if you are a part-time worker and work 20 hours a week, the company offers up to two packages for you to choose from. The package will be much more comprehensive if you are a full-time employee. Once the employee has chosen the plan that suits him/her best, he/she will have to go to a Starbucks Benefits Center agent to start the policy.
What else should you know about this type of plan?
In addition to Starbucks guaranteeing payment of 70% of the total policy amount, the basic policy plans offer other advantages:
- Premiums are deductible from the pay stub long before the state imposes taxes.
- Starbucks insurance plans offer full coverage for preventive health services. This policy benefits women in particular.
- Dependents of the employee are eligible for Starbucks insurance. These are domestic partners, spouses, and children.
If you are a Starbucks employee, you will be able to enjoy an effective insurance policy, which will allow you to be protected against illness, accidents, or disability. But as a company, it will keep you safe from any unexpected situation with your employees.