If you’re looking for work, you may have given up on finding part-time jobs with health insurance benefits. After all, “health insurance” and “part-time” don’t usually go together.
But as our understanding of the workforce changes, more employers have started extending full-time benefits to less-than-full-time workers. And though they’re not always easy to come by, part-time jobs with benefits do exist. This might be especially welcome for self-employed individuals looking for insurance to plug the benefits gap.
You just have to know where to look.
Do companies have to provide health-insurance for part-time workers?
Under federal law, no employer has to offer extra benefits to employers who work under 30 hours per week. Unfortunately, that means some workers fall through the health insurance crack, as they make too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to afford their own policy.
For these workers, companies that offer part-time jobs with benefits may provide an answer. Picking up a few shifts a week at one of these employers qualifies you for a variety of benefits, including:
- Health insurance plans
- Life and disability insurance
- Retirement plans
- Paid time off
- And more
(Note that for our purposes, we define part-time as 29 hours per week or less.)
1. UPS
UPS has long provided health insurance benefits and other handsome extras to full- and part-time employees alike. In fact, employees who log at least 225 hours per quarter (20 hours a week) generally qualify for Teamsters union TeamstersCare perks without the full-time commitment.
But there’s a catch: you must work for UPS for at least 12 months before signing up.
Once you’ve reached tenure, you can choose between several health plans to cover medical, dental, and prescription drugs. Most plans include low copays, coinsurance options, and a basic vision plan. Part-time employees also qualify for health and flexible savings accounts for themselves, their spouses, and eligible dependents.
Aside from these perks, UPS also offers part-time workers benefits like:
- Supplemental life insurance
- Disability and long-term care insurance
- AD&D insurance
- Home and auto insurance options
- Legal assistance
Not to mention, UPS provides tuition assistance of up to $5,250 per year with a $25,000 lifetime cap. Best of all, you may be eligible for financial aid immediately through the company’s Earn & Learn program.
2. Starbucks
Seattle-based Starbucks is one of the best-known companies that offer part-time jobs with health insurance benefits.
To qualify, you need to work at least 240 hours over three consecutive months, or about 20 hours per week. Then, assuming you maintain your 20-hour-per-week average going forward, you can sign up for Starbucks’ benefits packages.
Aside from your choice of health insurance programs, you can also opt into:
- Dental and vision plans
- Life and disability insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance (AD&D)
- College savings plans
- A 401(k) plan with 100% an employer match of up to 6% of your salary
Starbucks also runs a 401(k) plan with a 100% employer match of up to 6% of your salary. And unlike many retirement plans, your dollars vest immediately – even the funds contributed by your employer.
Additionally, the famed coffee company provides a range of employee assistance programs. Team members can enjoy short-term counseling to address emotional concerns, adoption assistance, and college tuition programs. And if you want to become a part-owner, Starbucks even offers stock and equity reward plans.
3. Costco
Costco is famous for its worker-friendly environment, including its higher-than-average starting pay for entry-level employees. And in keeping with the company’s image, all eligible full-time and part-time employees can participate in a range of health and retirement benefits packages.
Costco does have a slightly higher-than-average minimum work requirement to initially qualify. New employees must put in at least 450 “eligible paid hours” of service before signing up. You must also average at least 24 hours per week during and after the qualification period. (Hawaii employees only have to average 20 hours a week.)
Once you meet the criteria, you can select a medical plan through Aetna or the Hawaii PPO and HMO plan. (Depending on your location.) Each plan covers preventative and routine care, as well as dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage. And since all Costco locations have a pharmacy, you’ll also enjoy a separate in-house prescription plan with low copays for many medications.
In addition to health insurance, Costco employees can also sign up for:
- 401(k) plans that matches up to $500 per year
- A flexible spending account to cover dependent care services
- Direct stock purchase plans
- Disability, life, and long-term care insurance
Plus, the Costco Care Network offers free mental health counseling to employees who need to talk through stressful or emotional situations. If need be, Costco can refer you to debt counselors and lawyers (on your own dime) to address your finances.
4. Lowe’s
Lowe’s is another popular company that offers part-time jobs with health insurance benefits. But unlike the other options on our list, part-time employees qualify for a “limited benefit health plan,” which is structured a bit differently.
To start, there’s no minimum hourly threshold – in fact, you must enroll in the first 31 days. Alternatively, you can wait until a Special Enrollment Period comes around. And as a limited benefit company, Lowe’s only offers three basic options: the Low Plan, High Plan, and Enhanced Plan. (The Enhanced Plan is only available to employees who’ve worked at least one year.)
Each option pays for wellness and preventative care, doctor’s visits, emergency room care, and prescription drugs. The copays for each plan are incredibly low – for instance, a visit to an in-network doctor costs just $20. And the per-person deductible for prescription drugs is a mere $300 per year.
However, once you meet your plan’s annual coverage cap, your coverage ends. For instance, the Low Plan covers just $2,500 in combined expenses each year, while the Enhanced Plan covers a maximum of $50,000.
5. Allegis Group
Allegis Group is a recruiting and staffing firm that operates through a number of subsidiaries, notably Aerotek. All temporary and contracted employees who work at least 20 hours per week qualify for a full range of benefits. While plan details aren’t publicly available, workers can purportedly sign up for:
- Medical coverage
- Dental and vision benefits
- Unsubsidized coverage for employees and dependents
- Flexible spending accounts for health- and dependent-related needs
If you’re a new hire with Allegis, your benefits begin the first month following your date of hire. As such, you’ll need to select your coverage within the first 30 days of being hired. You can also wait until the next open enrollment period or qualifying life event to sign up. Allegis offers part-time jobs with benefits to employees, married spouses, and familial and adopted dependents under 26.
Aside from various medical benefits, Allegis Group employees can sign up for life and AD&D insurance, The company also offers a 401(k) and even 529 saving plans to cover college expenses. Alternatively, you may opt for tuition reimbursement, which generally pays for career-related courses at eligible learning institutions.
Allegis also offers paid holidays and generous employee discounts on a variety of goods and services.
6. REI
Seattle-based REI is often considered one of the country’s best retailers if you’re a part-time employee. The company is known for paying slightly above-average wages for entry-level workers and offers full-time benefits to many part-time employees. To qualify, you’ll have to average at least 20 hours a week over one calendar year.
Once you meet the eligibility parameters, REI offers three basic medical plans depending on your state of employment. (For a more comprehensive explanation, you can review REI’s healthcare and other benefits here.)
The first plan offers high deductibles with a health savings account option. The second provides a lower-deductible PPO plan with in- and out-of-network coverage options. Meanwhile, the third is only available in some states, and greatly restricts where you can receive care to slash your costs. (Both yours and the company’s.)
Each of these plans comes with preventative care coverage and some prescription drug benefits. Wellness checks and various in-network care options are also included.
Additionally, REI employees can sign up for life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) retirement plans. Plus, you’ll get access to paid leave opportunities, employee discounts at REI and other venues, and group fitness activities. And in keeping with the company’s outdoor lifestyle and environmental commitments, REI might even subsidize your public transit expenses.
7. JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase – or just “Chase” – is a global institution that offers a staggering variety of financial services. Among its more prominent offerings, Chase provides consumer and business banking, private wealth and investment management, and credit services.
While it may not seem like a worldwide financial behemoth is the best place to get a part-time job with benefits, Chase is surprisingly lenient. After just 60 days of employment averaging just 20 hours per week, you can opt into generous benefits like:
- Health and flexible spending accounts
- Long-term disability and life insurance
- AD&D insurance
- Personal liability insurance
- A discounted employee stock purchase program
- A 401(k) with variable employer contributions
Of course, the company also offers health insurance packages. Employees can pick between two medical coverage options with medical reimbursement accounts included. Most plans offer in-network preventative care, spouse and domestic partner care, and maternity benefits. Plus, you’ll have your choice of three dental plans to select from.
8. Chipotle
Denver-based Chipotle is another on the list of famous companies that offer part-time jobs with health insurance benefits. As one of the company’s employees, affectionately termed “crew members,” you don’t even have to meet hourly requirements to qualify.
Currently, the company offers health insurance coverage through Anthem, with two basic plans in place. The Anthem Preventative Plus plan is cheaper upfront but compensates with less coverage. There’s also Anthem Hourly PPO, which offers heftier benefits at the price of more expensive premiums. (Note that you may have to work at least 30 hours per week to qualify for Anthem Hourly PPO.)
Chipotle is proud of its additional employee perks, too, which include:
- Free employee meals every shift
- Quarterly bonuses for stores that hit their performance markers
- Education assistance and up to $5,250 in annual tuition reimbursement
- Paid time off
- A free, 24/7 mental health service
- 401(k) plans with matching after your first year of employment
Plus, you’ll enjoy name-brand discounts, a stock purchase plan, gym membership discounts, and…well, just check it out here for yourself!
9. Amazon
Amazon is somewhat of a mixed bag as an employer. While the company has faced accusations of unfair treatment from some employees, others tout the company’s average starting pay of $18 an hour. And, as long as you work at least 20 hours per week, you’ll be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package from day one.
Among other perks, the company’s health- and family-related coverage includes:
- Multiple medical plans
- Extended enrollment in dental and vision insurance for part-time workers
- Flexible spending accounts for both healthcare and dependent care
- Up to 20 weeks of paid leave for birthing mothers
- And up to 6 weeks of parental leave for adoptive parents
The company also boasts access to a network of more than 2 million caregivers, including discounts on some daycare centers. Amazon will even front some adoption costs for qualified travel, attorney, and court costs.
And all that aside, some Amazon employees also qualify for fully-funded college tuition (for front-line employees) and 401(k) with up to 50% employer matching.
Always Double-Check Part-Time Jobs with Health Insurance!
The health insurance landscape changes often in response to new policies, rising expenses, and patchwork state initiatives. As such, companies that offer part-time jobs with benefits may drop or lower coverage on short notice. To avoid getting stuck at a dead-end job that’s light on perks, be sure to double-check that a company still offers health insurance before signing on.