Health Insurance Options for Small Businesses
Looking for health insurance for your employees? We help small business owners compare group health insurance, level-funded and hybrid options, reimbursement strategies and employee benefits without making the process harder than it needs to be.
Every business is different. The right approach depends on your number of employees, employee ages, locations, budget, employer contribution, coverage goals and the type of benefits you want to offer.
Start with a brief consultation. We'll learn about your company, explain the options that may fit and determine the information needed to prepare quotes.
Small Business Health Insurance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
Small business owners usually don't have a full benefits department to research insurance companies, compare networks, manage employee questions and review renewal increases.
That's where we help.
We work with business owners to understand the company first and then compare the health benefit approaches that may be available based on the business's size, location and goals.
Growing Businesses
Building a benefits package for the first time and trying to attract or retain employees.
Existing Group Plans
Businesses that already provide health insurance but want to compare renewal costs, benefits or other approaches.
Small Teams
Owners with a smaller workforce who want to understand whether traditional group coverage or another arrangement makes more sense.
Small Business Health Insurance Options We Can Discuss
The options available depend on your state, business structure, number of employees and other eligibility requirements. Your consultation helps us narrow down what is worth quoting.
Traditional Group Health Insurance
Employer-sponsored health insurance where eligible employees enroll in one or more plans selected by the business.
We can review premiums, deductibles, provider networks, employee contributions and plan designs.
Level-Funded & Hybrid Options
Depending on the group and state, some businesses may qualify for level-funded or other hybrid health benefit arrangements.
These options can work differently from traditional fully insured group coverage, so we'll explain the funding, underwriting, claims exposure and plan structure before you decide whether one is appropriate.
ICHRA / Individual Coverage Arrangements
Some employers may choose to contribute toward employees' individual health insurance instead of sponsoring a traditional group plan.
An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement can allow an employer to provide a defined contribution toward eligible individual coverage.
QSEHRA
Certain employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees that do not offer a group health plan may be able to use a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement.
A QSEHRA can reimburse eligible employees for qualifying medical expenses, including certain health insurance premiums, subject to federal rules and annual limits.
Dental & Vision
Dental and vision benefits can often be added to the employee benefits package and may be offered alongside medical coverage.
Life, AD&D & Supplemental Benefits
Employers may also want to consider life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, accident benefits, critical illness and other supplemental coverage.
What We'll Discuss on the Initial Call
You don't need to know exactly what type of plan you want before scheduling. The purpose of the first call is to understand your business and figure out which options are worth comparing.
- Number of employees and who needs coverage
- Employee ages and ZIP codes
- Whether employees have dependents who may need coverage
- How much the business wants to contribute
- Whether you already have a group plan
- Your current premium and upcoming renewal, if applicable
- Preferred doctors, hospitals or provider networks
- Whether you want dental, vision, life or other benefits
- Desired effective date
Don't have all of that information yet?
That's fine. Schedule the initial call anyway. We'll tell you exactly what we need after we understand what you're trying to accomplish.
How the Small Business Process Works
Initial Consultation
We start with a phone call to learn about your company, employees, budget and benefit goals.
Gather Employee Information
Once we know which options make sense, we'll tell you what employee information is needed to prepare accurate quotes.
Compare & Build the Plan
We review coverage, employer contribution, employee costs, networks and optional benefits and help you understand the differences.
Does a Small Business Have to Offer Health Insurance?
Under federal employer shared-responsibility rules, businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, generally are not considered Applicable Large Employers and generally are not subject to the federal employer shared-responsibility provisions.
Employers averaging 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalents, can be subject to additional federal requirements.
State laws, ownership relationships between related businesses and other circumstances can also affect employer responsibilities.
Why Work With 1099 Health Insurance?
Compare More Than Premium
A lower monthly premium does not automatically mean a better employee benefit.
We look at deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket costs, provider networks, prescriptions and plan structure too.
Understand the Trade-Offs
Fully insured, level-funded, reimbursement and other arrangements work differently.
We explain those differences in plain language before you decide.
Build Around Your Business
We start with your workforce and budget instead of trying to force every business into the same plan.
Ongoing Help
Our role doesn't end when the plan starts. We remain available when you have questions about coverage, renewals or employee benefits.
Let's Talk About Your Small Business
Choose a convenient time below. We'll start by learning about your company, employees and what you're hoping to accomplish with your benefits.
Small Business Health Insurance FAQ
How many employees do I need to get small business health insurance?
Eligibility depends on the type of plan, your state, employee participation and your business structure. Some small-group options can work for very small employers, while other arrangements have different eligibility requirements. We'll determine which options are available after learning about your company.
Does my small business have to offer health insurance?
Businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalents, generally are not subject to the federal employer shared-responsibility provisions. Different rules can apply once an employer reaches the Applicable Large Employer threshold.
Can I pay 100% of my employees' health insurance?
Employers can choose how much they want to contribute, subject to the rules of the coverage or arrangement being used. During the consultation, we can discuss different employer contribution approaches and how they affect employee costs.
Can employees add their spouses and children?
Many employer health plans allow eligible dependents to enroll, although eligibility rules and employer contribution toward dependent coverage can vary.
Can we include dental and vision coverage?
Yes. Depending on the available products, dental and vision can often be included alongside the medical benefits package.
Can we add life insurance and AD&D?
Employer benefit packages can also include options such as life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage and other supplemental benefits depending on availability.
What if my employees live in different states?
Tell us where each employee lives. Multi-state employees can make provider networks and plan availability especially important, and the best approach depends on the specific locations and coverage being considered.
What is the difference between fully insured and level-funded coverage?
With traditional fully insured coverage, the employer pays a premium to an insurance company for the covered group. Level-funded arrangements can combine a fixed monthly payment with claims funding, administrative costs and stop-loss protection.
Level-funded arrangements can involve different financial risks and requirements, so we explain the structure carefully before comparing them with fully insured coverage.
What is an ICHRA?
An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement allows an employer to reimburse eligible employees for qualified individual health insurance and certain medical expenses instead of offering those employees a traditional group medical plan, subject to federal requirements.
What is a QSEHRA?
A Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available to certain small employers that generally have fewer than 50 full-time employees and do not offer a group health plan.
It can allow the employer to reimburse eligible employees for qualifying medical expenses and health insurance premiums up to federal annual limits.
What information should I have ready for the first call?
If possible, know approximately how many employees need coverage, where they live, your desired effective date and how much the business may want to contribute.
If you already have coverage, having your current plan and renewal information available can also help. Don't worry if you don't have everything yet.
How does the initial small business consultation work?
The initial consultation is normally completed by phone. We learn about the company and determine which health insurance or employee benefit options are worth exploring.
We can use screen-sharing later when it helps to review quotes, benefits and plan details together.
Ready to Compare Small Business Health Insurance?
Start with a conversation. Tell us about your business, employees and budget, and we'll help determine which health insurance and employee benefit options are worth comparing.
Small Business Health Insurance Resources
- Internal Revenue Service — Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions
- Internal Revenue Service — Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions for Small Employers
- HealthCare.gov — Small Business Health Options
- HealthCare.gov — Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements
- HealthCare.gov — Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements
