When you’re running a small business, choosing health insurance can feel like one more job you don’t have time for.

You have options, but finding what’s right for your business isn’t always clear. You can purchase coverage directly from an insurance carrier, shop through Covered California for Small Business, work with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), or partner with an employee benefits broker to help you compare and enroll in group health insurance.

For some small businesses, a DIY approach may be perfectly fine. But as your team grows, and your employees’ health care needs become more diverse, working with a knowledgeable small business health insurance broker can make the process significantly easier.

Do You Really Need a Health Insurance Broker?

Not every group needs a broker. Group size can make a difference. If you have a small staff with just one or two employees, the DIY route may make sense. That’s especially true if you all have similar health care needs. Selecting a single plan on your own might be simple and straightforward.

But what happens when your team includes employees at different stages of life, with different doctors, prescriptions, budgets, and health care priorities? Suddenly, choosing a plan isn’t quite so simple. That’s where an employee benefits broker can help.

A broker can walk you through your small business health insurance options, explain the differences between HMOs, PPOs and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and help you find coverage that balances your employees’ needs with your budget. And here’s something that may surprise you. Using a broker typically doesn’t cost you more.

ACA-compliant group health plans are generally priced the same whether you purchase coverage directly from an insurance carrier or through a broker. In other words, you can get the expertise and support of a broker without paying an additional fee.

It’s Not Just Money, It’s Time

As a business owner, your time is valuable. So is your employees’ time.

Shopping for small business health insurance involves more than comparing monthly premiums. You may need to research provider networks, prescription coverage, plan types, employee contributions, enrollment requirements, and more. A broker can take some of that work off your plate.

Your broker can help you:

• Compare health plans and coverage options
• Understand differences between carriers and plan types
• Evaluate costs and employee contributions
• Identify plans that include the doctors, hospitals and prescriptions your employees need
• Coordinate enrollment meetings or online presentations
• Help employees understand their coverage options
• Assist with adding new employees throughout the year
• Provide ongoing support when questions or issues arise

That last point is important. Your relationship with your broker doesn’t end when your group is enrolled. If you have a question about your coverage, need help with a new employee, or run into an issue with a claim, your broker can continue to be a resource.

More Health Plan Choices for Your Employees

If you’re looking for California small business health insurance, ask your broker about CaliforniaChoice. CaliforniaChoice is an employee-choice, multi-carrier private health exchange that gives employees the flexibility to choose from multiple health plans within one employer-sponsored program.

Instead of trying to find one health plan that works for everyone, you can offer your employees a range of choices from multiple carriers. That can make a big difference when your employees have different needs preferences. And the value doesn’t stop with medical coverage.

Add More Value to Your Employee Benefits

CaliforniaChoice also offers optional benefits including:

• Dental
• Vision
• Chiropractic & Acupuncture
• Life Insurance and AD&D

Plus, there are additional tools and perks designed to help small businesses and their employees get more from their benefits.

Through the program, employers can access solutions such as Premium Only Plans (POPs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), while offering employees savings through the Member Value Suite.

Those added perks include:

• Savings on pet insurance from MetLife and Spot
• EyeMed Vision One Eyecare Program savings on frames, lenses, and eye exams
• Discounts on hearing tests and hearing-related products
• Savings on movie tickets, theme parks, hotels, rental cars, and more through Cal Perks
• Prescription drug savings that may reduce out-of-pocket costs
• Wellness savings, including discounted fitness memberships

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

Choosing small business health insurance doesn’t have to mean spending hours researching plans, comparing carriers, and trying to decode insurance terminology. You can do it yourself, but you don’t have to.

An employee benefits broker can help you understand your options, compare coverage, simplify enrollment, and provide support throughout the year. And if you’re looking for a way to give your employees more choice, a broker can also introduce you to solutions like CaliforniaChoice.

If you’re ready to explore your options, we can connect you with a broker.