Jim Mooradian is urging employers to take a second look-or in come cases, a first look-at voluntary benefits (VB) programs.

Noting that corporations are reigning in costs on key core benefits, Mooradian argues that now is the time for companies to look at VB programs as an inexpensive way to help their employees.

VB programs fill the gaps in standard health care and benefits coverage and help contain employer costs as well, because employees, not the companies, pay the premiums of VB programs.

"Providing your employees with health care coverage is expensive," Mooradian said. "And even with increasingly higher costs, you may still not be providing full and adequate coverage. Suppose your employee loses a week or two of work due to an accident or illness. Are all medical and household costs covered, as well as interruptions in income? For most firms the answer would be no."

Boston-based Mooradian and Associates is one of the biggest producers of supplemental insurance programs in the country.