Insurance, Employee Benefits, Texas Small Business
Texas small businesses do not need Fortune 500 budgets to offer competitive employee benefits. By pairing ManhattanLife group benefits with smart funding strategies, you can build an affordable, high-impact benefits package that helps you recruit and retain top talent in today’s tight labor market.
The Employee Benefits Problem for Small Texas Businesses
Across Texas, large corporations routinely offer full benefits packages: major medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and more. For a small business with 5–50 employees, matching that package feels nearly impossible. Traditional group health insurance can be expensive, and premiums often rise at renewal.
Many small employers do not offer health benefits at all, while most large employers do. That gap puts smaller companies at a real disadvantage when hiring.
If you are a Texas business owner, you may be asking: “How can I offer meaningful employee benefits without taking on the cost of a full group health plan?”
The Smart Solution: Supplemental Group Benefits from ManhattanLife
ManhattanLife, in business since 1850, offers supplemental and voluntary benefits that can fit small-business budgets. Instead of one all-or-nothing plan, you can choose the benefits that matter most to your team.
These benefits are ideal for:
- Employers who cannot afford a full group health plan today but still want a credible benefits offering.
- Employers using ICHRA or individual health plans and needing robust supplemental coverage.
- Growing businesses that want to start with voluntary benefits now and layer in more coverage later.
With ManhattanLife group benefits, you can say to candidates, “We offer a real benefits package,” without committing to unsustainable premiums.
What ManhattanLife Group Benefits Can Include for Your Team
ManhattanLife’s portfolio for Texas employers includes a wide range of supplemental benefits. Brilliant Insurance helps you choose the options that match your workforce and budget. Popular choices for small businesses include:
Dental, Vision & Hearing (DVH): a popular benefit that helps with cleanings, fillings, eye exams, glasses or contacts, and hearing care, depending on the plan.
Group GAP insurance: ManhattanLife’s Prestige Group Single Bucket GAP plan is customized to work alongside an employer’s major medical plan, helping with inpatient and outpatient costs left by high deductibles. Note: it is not HSA compatible. These products are designed to complement whatever primary health coverage you use.
A structured benefits review helps Texas employers align coverage with budget and hiring goals.
How ManhattanLife Group Benefits Work for Small Texas Employers
One of the biggest advantages of ManhattanLife group benefits for small business Texas employers is funding flexibility. You are not locked into paying 100% of the cost the way many traditional group health plans require.
- Employer can pay all, some, or none of the premium – These are voluntary benefits. You may choose to contribute a flat amount per employee, cover one core benefit (like DVH), or simply make the plans available for employees to purchase through payroll deduction.
- Portable coverage for employees – In most cases, employees can keep their coverage if they leave your company, by paying premiums directly. That portability makes the benefits more attractive and reduces your administrative headaches at offboarding.
- Simple group enrollment and one bill – ManhattanLife streamlines implementation with straightforward group enrollment, electronic applications, and consolidated billing. Brilliant Insurance manages the setup so you are not buried in paperwork.
💡 Business Insight: Voluntary benefits let you offer a strong employee benefits package Texas workers value, without committing to unsustainable fixed costs on your P&L.
The Competitive Advantage: Retain and Recruit Better Talent
Benefits are consistently ranked alongside pay as a top factor when people choose and stay with an employer.
- You reduce turnover costs by keeping experienced employees longer.
- You attract higher-quality candidates who are comparing your offer with larger employers.
- You position your business as a stable, professional employer—not a short-term stop.
In other words, ManhattanLife group benefits help small businesses compete with corporations—not by matching every benefit line item, but by offering a credible, thoughtfully designed employee benefits package Texas workers can count on.
The ICHRA Advantage: Pair ManhattanLife Benefits with an ICHRA
A growing trend is the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). With an ICHRA, the employer gives employees a tax-free allowance to buy their own individual health insurance.
- Set a predictable monthly allowance for each employee.
- Allow employees to purchase individual health insurance that fits their needs and family situation.
- Avoid the complexity and cost volatility of a traditional group health plan.
When you pair an ICHRA with ManhattanLife supplemental benefits, you can build a well-rounded benefits package:
- Employees get individual health insurance funded through ICHRA, plus DVH, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and life insurance through ManhattanLife.
- You maintain budget control while offering a benefits package that looks and feels like something a much larger employer would provide.
What Does It Cost?
Cost depends on which benefits you choose, how many employees enroll, their ages, and how much (if any) of the premium you pay. Because these are voluntary benefits, you can start small and add more later.
For many small employers, voluntary benefits make offering a benefits package possible. Brilliant Insurance can quote options side by side so you can see real numbers for your team.
How to Get Started with Brilliant Insurance
Brilliant Insurance is a Texas-based agency focused on group benefits for small business Texas employers. We help you evaluate your options, design the right mix of ManhattanLife group benefits, and, if appropriate, integrate an ICHRA strategy—all with clear, business-focused guidance.
You can take action in two simple steps:
Book a free benefits review to talk through group options for your business, or explore ManhattanLife individual plans online.
If you are ready to stop losing good people to bigger employers, now is the time to explore ManhattanLife group benefits and voluntary benefits small business strategies that work in the real world. With the right design, your small business can offer a benefits package that attracts and keeps top talent—without taking on unsustainable risk or expense.
Talk to a licensed agent
Brilliant Insurance is an independent agency in Plano, Texas. David Gustafson is a licensed agent (Texas License #2116912, NPN 18037219) and can compare options from many carriers for you, at no cost to you.
Book a free 30-minute call or call (972) 750-3031.
This article is general information, not advice for your situation. Plans, prices and availability vary by carrier, age, health and location. Coverage is subject to the policy’s terms, limitations and exclusions.
