UnitedHealthcare has partnered with the Social Services Purchasing Alliance to provide more than 10,000 employees a 5% discount on the New Jersey Small Employer health plans it offers.

The plans include traditional plans, health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts, out-of-network options, preventative care and wellness programs.

Employees eligible for the discounted health plans include workers at more than 1,000 New Jersey facilities providing therapeutic, residential, educational and other services to the disadvantaged and to people with physical, mental and behavioral challenges and disabilities.

“Lowering the cost of health care for caregivers and others who work in state-funded social service agencies has long been an objective of New Jersey state government,” said Jennifer Velez, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, in a statement.

New Jersey law authorizes this type of arrangement based on expected marketing efficiencies that should lower the acquisition and retention costs associated with these insurance policies, officials say.

To qualify for the discounted coverage, an agency must join the Social Services Purchasing Alliance (SSPA). The VanPalmer Group, a Wayne, N.J.-based insurance brokerage firm, will administer the discount program.

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 1.3 million health plan customers through a health care provider network of 84 hospitals and more than 14,000 physicians.

Newark, N.J.-based SSPA, an independent not-for-profit organization managed by its member social service providers, is a New Jersey coalition of more than 1,000 social service providers funded by the New Jersey Department of Human Services and Department of Children and Families.

“Social service workers provide needed, valuable services to the most vulnerable in our society; it’s important they have access to quality, cost-effective health care coverage,” said Michael McGuire, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of New Jersey.