Landscape companies in Washington state now have access to a new health insurance option that could reduce their costs by 10 to 15 percent. The Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP) has partnered with Anything Insurance and the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) to open the BIAW Health Trust to WALP member companies. The announcement was made by WALP State President Dave Haizlip at the Northwest Nurseries Summer BBQ on August 12.
The BIAW Health Trust is a group health plan available exclusively to member businesses. It offers medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, plus an employee assistance program. Members can choose from more than 50 plans and customize coverage to meet the needs of their employees. A dedicated service team is available to answer questions from both employers and employees.
What makes this program particularly valuable for smaller landscape companies is the two-employee minimum. Typically, small employers are priced as small groups with limited buying power. Through WALP, even companies with just two employees can access a large group health plan, gaining greater buying power and potentially significant savings. This is especially important for landscape companies, where health insurance can be a major expense and a key tool for attracting and retaining workers.
“We’ve worked on bringing this benefit to WALP members for quite some time because access to quality, affordable health insurance can make a real difference for landscape companies and their employees,” said Haizlip. “Whether it’s a small company offering benefits for the first time or a larger company looking to reduce costs, this gives our members access to greater buying power. When we announced the partnership at the Northwest Nurseries Summer BBQ and immediately had a small company member ask who they could contact to learn more, it reinforced exactly why we pursued this.”
The partnership addresses a common challenge for landscape businesses: providing competitive benefits without breaking the bank. By joining WALP, companies can offer health insurance that helps them compete for talent. Access to the program is available exclusively to active WALP member companies. Landscape companies interested in learning more about the program can visit walp.org for membership information.
About WALP: The Washington Association of Landscape Professionals represents landscape contractors, designers, suppliers, and allied businesses across Washington state. WALP runs education, certification, networking, and member benefit programs for the state's landscape industry.
About Anything Insurance: Anything Insurance, a Benefit Solutions NW company, provides employee benefits and insurance services to Washington businesses.
About BIAW: The Building Industry Association of Washington represents member businesses across Washington state and administers the BIAW Health Trust, a group health plan for member companies.
