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Small and medium-sized enterprises face budget, resource, and scale constraints in offering competitive health and benefits. In a war for talent, how can you balance rising medical costs while attracting and retaining key talent? 

Here’s how Marsh can help you compete and win in a war for talent amidst medical inflation. 

  • Select: More value

    Big benefits at competitive prices: SMEs can unlock exclusive medical coverage through our network and scale. 

    1. Make the most out of your workforce budget with our competitive premium pricing covering a range of medical benefits which are usually only available to large organizations. 

    2. What’s more, you can lock in premiums and feel secure even as the market fluctuates.

    3. Yes, we’re big, but that means we can negotiate big too. Take advantage of our global negotiation power and exclusive partnerships so you can enjoy more value while containing costs.

     

  • Select: More efficient

    Save time and boost efficiency: Empower small businesses to manage plans and streamline operations with digital tools.

    We know that the smallest efficiencies can make a big difference in terms of cost and time savings in a small business. 

    1. Leverage our user-friendly digital tools to manage and monitor your benefits plans, and to communicate with and engage employees. 

    2. You can maximize operational efficiency through streamlined administration, automated reporting and timely claims processing so you can stay up to date wherever you are. 

    What’s more

    Our complimentary, exclusive Benefits Club Membership gives clients special discounts and promotions on health and wellnes solutions. Plus, access our proprietary insights and benchmarking data to enhance your organization’s HR strategy. 

  • Select: More competitive advantage

    Attract the same top talent as larger firms: SMEs can be talent magnets. 

    Your people are your business. Investing in the right benefits program helps you win talent, differentiate your business, and gain a competitive edge. 

    1. Select from our range of benefits programs to help you attract and retain the people you need for the competitive advantage you deserve.

    2. With our affordable packages, you too can offer tailored benefits that truly matter to your workforce.

Benefits that work for your people

Every business has distinct needs, objectives, and growth plans. Our benefits specialists are dedicated to developing employee solutions that can be uniquely tailored to your organization.
         
  BENEFITS ONE BENEFITS ELECT ELECT PLUS INTERNATIONAL HEALTH FIRST (IHF) MEDICAL PLAN
Best for Small businesses seeking ready-made employee benefits SMEs seeking richer ready-made benefits Businesses wanting highly customizable benefits Businesses needing premium international medical coverage
Minimum headcount  2
employees		 5
employees		 50
employees		 2
employees
Flexible benefits (Voluntary Option)     ✓ ✓
Simplified underwriting ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Benefits management app 

(Mobile App for Employees)

 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
International medical coverage

✓ 

(24 hours worldwide coverage)

✓

(24 hours worldwide coverage)

✓ 

(24 hours worldwide coverage)

✓ 

(24 hours worldwide coverage)
Suitable for local employees ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Suitable for expatriates ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Wellness benefits (optional) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Key advantage Simple and cost-effective packaged benefits Competitive benefits with simplified underwriting Flexible and modular employee benefits platform Global healthcare coverage for local and internationally mobile employees
The strongest SMEs are built on healthy, supported teams. For SMEs in Singapore, providing meaningful medical coverage is no longer just an employee benefit — it is a business imperative that helps companies attract, retain, and care for talent. A well-designed employee medical plan can make people feel valued, protected, and motivated to grow.
Michelle Lee, SME leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits Singapore

FAQs

The escalating medical costs in Asia are reducing healthcare affordability and reach for employees, widening the workforce health protection gap. SMEs are hit the hardest because they operate on finite budgets, and rising insurance premiums are creating further financial strains.

A high loss ratio occurs when an insurance company pays out a large percentage of its premiums in claims, or simply a high ratio of losses to gains, impacting premiums for businesses. Inadequate plan design, under-utilization of benefits, and low employee headcount with single large inpatient claims can disproportionately drive up loss ratio beyond the threshold, leading to a high loss ratio. 

In an environment of high premium fluctuations, especially in a bad year with high loss ratio, steep price loadings can be implemented by insurers at renewals, which undermine SMEs’ ability to provide adequate medical coverage for their workforce. It is crucial that SMEs actively align benefits with actual workforce needs and demographics to keep cost manageable and improve predictability.

Offering an attractive and comprehensive employee benefits program makes your company more competitive and enhances employee experience and satisfaction. This leads to increased productivity and helps reduce high costs associated with employee turnover. Investing in the right employee benefits program supports a motivated, loyal workforce and contributes to the long-term success of your business.

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