Health & Wellness

A fast snapshot (what we help with)

Plan design

Right coverage, right cost, and clear eligibility rules that won’t cause friction at enrolment.

Market quoting

Carrier comparisons with tradeoffs explained plainly (not “carrier-speak”).

Employee rollout

Onboarding support so employees know what they have and how to use it.

Renewal management

Claims/cost-control guidance and renewal strategy to avoid surprise spikes.

Add-ons

HSA/PSA, EFAP/EAP, virtual care and other bolt-ons where they actually make sense.

Pooled Plan vs Custom Build

Prefer speed or customization? Start with pooled pricing, or build a plan tailored to your workforce and renewal objectives.

Pooled Plan (fast pricing)

Standardized, quick-to-run pricing for small groups when you want speed and simplicity.

Get Pooled Pricing View Plan Designs

Custom Build (tailored strategy)

A plan designed around your demographics, budget, and the renewal stability you want long-term.

Book a Custom Call Explore Add-Ons

What’s included in a typical group benefits plan

Every employer is different, but most plans are built from a few core components:

Extended Health

Drugs, paramedical, vision, and (sometimes) travel medical depending on design.

Dental

Basic, major, and orthodontics depending on budget and hiring goals.

Disability

Short-term and/or long-term disability to protect income and reduce employer risk.

Life & AD&D

Life, accidental death & dismemberment, and optional dependent life where appropriate.

HSA / Wellness spend

Flexible employer-funded spending that can stabilize costs vs richer insured coverage.

EFAP/EAP + Virtual care

Support access (mental health + counselling) and faster clinician access when care is scarce.

Who we work best with

Small & mid-sized employers

That want a plan built for sustainable renewals, not “cheap year 1, painful year 2+”.

Growing teams

That need a structured onboarding process and clean admin to scale hiring.

Employers who want service

If you’re tired of “set it and forget it,” we’ll stay engaged through renewals and changes.

Atlantic-first support

Halifax/HRM and beyond — with virtual consults across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.

How quoting works (simple process)

Discovery (15 minutes) Budget, pain points, and must-haves.
Data capture Headcount, classes (if any), and current benefits (if you have them).
Market quote & options Tradeoffs explained in plain English.
Implementation Effective date, enrolment, and employee communication.
Ongoing support Plan changes, claims guidance, and annual renewals.

Cost control (without wrecking the plan)

Renewals aren’t magic — they’re driven by plan design and usage. We help reduce avoidable cost creep with practical levers like:

  • adjusting plan structure and pooling approach where appropriate
  • smarter drug plan management options (case-by-case)
  • dental design choices that reduce volatility
  • adding/structuring an HSA when it makes more sense than richer insured coverage
  • promoting EFAP/virtual care to reduce downstream high-cost claims

Why East Coast Employee Benefits

We’re a Nova Scotia-based consultancy founded by benefits consultants from Bedford and Cape Breton. You get responsive service, clear explanations, and a plan designed to stay sustainable over time.

  • Clear options: we translate the tradeoffs so decisions are easy
  • Renewal focus: plan design built to hold up long-term
  • Local support: Halifax/HRM + province-wide virtual support

FAQs

Do we need an existing plan to get a quote?
No — new plan setups are common. If you do have coverage, we can quote alternatives and review renewal pressure points.
How long does setup take?
It depends on plan complexity and enrolment, but many implementations are completed in a few weeks once we have census details and decisions finalized.
Can we include remote employees outside HRM?
Often yes. Eligibility and pricing depend on carrier rules and where employees reside.
What’s the best “starter” plan for a small team?
Usually a balanced core plan with an HSA for flexibility, but the right answer depends on budget, demographics, and hiring needs.

Service Area + How we work

We’re Nova Scotia-based and support employers across Halifax (HRM), Bedford, Dartmouth, and Cape Breton — with virtual consults available across Atlantic Canada.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or reviewing a renewal, we’ll show the options clearly and help you land on a plan that fits your budget and holds up at renewal.

Learn about Virtual Doctors HSAs & Wellness Spend

What we need to quote (so you don’t waste time)

To turn around accurate pricing quickly, we typically need:

  • employee headcount
  • classes (if any)
  • ages or birth years
  • postal codes (or work locations)
  • single/family status
  • target effective date

If you already have a plan, we’ll also review your current benefits summary and renewal notes to spot pressure points and show better options.

Ready for pricing?

Start with Pooled Plan for fast, standardized pricing — or choose Custom Build for a plan designed around your workforce and objectives.

Pooled Plan Custom Build