Who is considered a possible applicant and contract policyholder for group health benefits?

The employer is considered a possible applicant and contract policyholder for group health benefits because, in group insurance arrangements, it is typically the employer who applies for the group policy and enters into a contractual agreement with the insurance provider. This arrangement is designed to cover a group of people, often employees, under a single insurance plan. The employer negotiates the terms of the insurance policy, pays the premiums, and ensures that eligible employees have access to the health benefits provided.

While employees are the individuals who will ultimately benefit from the insurance coverage, they do not apply for or hold the contract; instead, they receive coverage under the policy the employer acquires. Independent consultants, while they may be part of the workforce in some contexts, typically do not fall under group health benefits unless specifically included by the employer. An insurance broker, on the other hand, is an intermediary who helps facilitate the policy but is not considered a policyholder or an applicant in the sense of holding the insurance policy.