Employees praise Saratoga Springs company for free healthcare

A Saratoga Springs business is so intent on making their company a place where people want to work, they’re paying for all healthcare costs of its employees.

Peregrine Market Access, a company that works with pharmaceutical companies, says it makes good sense to invest in their most valuable asset – their employees.

The company’s founder says when employees have to worry about things like healthcare costs, they can’t do their best work.

It’s a unique company in a unique space. There’s a fun room for employees’ kids, a couple of fully stocked fridges, and the board room is covered with skateboards. Company founder John Guarino says Peregrine’s 54 employees are its top priority.

They pay for the premiums, the co-pays, the prescriptions and the deductibles. Employees swipe their cards and the company picks up the tab.

Guarino says when he first presented it, some didn’t believe him, but once it sunk in, they started making appointments.

"It was amazing. When we first did this, the day it went into effect, everybody had four or five doctor’s appointments scheduled, and they went out and started getting their kids there, and it was amazing, it was just the coolest thing," said Guarino.

Hear from employees about what the benefit means to them by watching the video of Mark Mulholland’s story.