Voluntary benefits are optional insurance and service offerings that employees can choose to enroll in, often at a group rate. They provide added financial protection and flexibility, allowing employees to customize their benefits package to better meet their personal and family needs.
Voluntary benefits programs have four key characteristics:
- Employee-paid (either partially or fully)
- Offered through an employer
- Solicited and enrolled through a carrier or enrollment firm
- Paid through automatic payroll deductions
The infographic below defines common types of voluntary benefits to help employees navigate their benefits options.
The listed voluntary benefits are common; however, employers may not offer all of these options. Additional voluntary benefits may also be available depending on an employer’s offerings.
If employees have questions, they can check with their employer for further resources.
This article is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of an insurance professional. © 2025 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
