What type of group insurance plan requires both employer and employee to contribute to the premium?

A contributory group plan is one in which both the employer and the employee share the responsibility of paying the premium for the insurance coverage. This type of plan incentivizes employees to enroll, as they may be able to secure better coverage at a lower cost than individual plans. In a contributory setup, typically, the employer will cover a portion of the premium, while employees will contribute a specified amount, often deducted directly from their paychecks.

The nature of the contributory plan implies that there is active employee participation, often requiring a minimum percentage of eligible employees to enroll in order for the plan to be viable. This collective participation helps spread the risk among a larger group, potentially leading to lower overall costs for both employers and employees compared to insurance policies that individuals purchase on their own.

In contrast, a noncontributory group plan is one where the employer pays the entire premium, and employees do not contribute financially. Voluntary group plans usually allow employees to opt into additional coverage options beyond base offerings, while mandatory group plans are structured around required participation or compliance, yet do not specifically denote shared premium contributions. Each of these alternatives functions differently regarding how premiums are funded and how employee involvement is structured.