When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in 2010, it had three main goals:
- Make health insurance more affordable
- Improve the quality of care
- Help control health care costs
For small businesses, the ACA brought important benefits that help boost employee wellness and attract great talent.
The 10 Essential Health Benefits (EHBs)
All ACA-compliant health plans must cover these basics:
- Doctor visits without an overnight hospital stay
- ER visits
- Hospital stays and surgeries
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use treatment
- Prescription drugs
- Rehab and therapy services
- Lab tests
- Preventive care and chronic disease management
- Pediatric care (including dental and vision)
They also must cover birth control and breastfeeding support. States can add their own requirements, but these are the core protections your employees get no matter which ACA plan they choose.
Preventative Care at No Extra Cost
Preventive and wellness services are included in EHBs, and they come with no copay, no coinsurance, and no deductible for your employees. That means they can get screened, counseled, or vaccinated before problems get serious (and expensive).
Some examples:
- Alcohol screening and counseling
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening for high-risk adults
- Cancer screenings (colorectal, lung, breast)
- Depression and obesity counseling
- Fall prevention for adults 65 and older
- HIV and STD prevention services
- Vaccines for flu, shingles, measles, and more
Early care keeps your team healthier, which means fewer sick days and more productivity for your business. Check the preventive care page of HealthCare.gov for more information.
Added Wellness Benefits
Since the ACA took effect, many insurers have gone beyond the basics by adding perks like:
- Discounted gym memberships
- On-demand workout videos and wellness challenges
- Nutrition and weight management programs
- Employee Assistance Programs for mental health support
- Chronic disease management to help employees live better with long-term conditions
Wellness programs like these can boost morale, reduce burnout, and even lower your overall health care costs.
More Access with CaliforniaChoice
When you offer benefits through CaliforniaChoice, your employees get:
- 7 health plans and 100+ coverage options to choose from
- Access to a wide network of doctors, specialists, and hospitals
- Optional Dental, Vision, Chiropractic, and Life/AD&D coverage
- Business Solutions Suite perks like free Flexible Spending Accounts, COBRA billing, and Premium Only Plan setup
- Member Value Suite discounts on wellness, travel, entertainment, and more
And here’s the best part: you control your costs. You have two options:
- Set a Fixed Percentage (50%–100% of a plan) or
- Set a Fixed Dollar Amount per employee
Employees then apply your contribution to the plan they want. If it costs more, they cover the difference, making it simple and predictable.
Connect with a Health Insurance Broker
A licensed broker can walk you through your options and find a plan that fits your budget and your team’s needs. There’s no cost to you for using a broker. If you don’t already have one, we make it easy for you to connect with a broker online.
