Your Business is our Business

Insurance for Your Business

Your Options at a Glance

For Self-Employed Individuals, Small Businesses, and Group Insurance

  • A great option for self-employed individuals is ACA Marketplace Plans (Bronze–Platinum), with plans that offer free preventive care and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Many self-employed qualify for up-front premium tax credits; we help you estimate eligibility and understand how advance tax credits are reconciled at tax time.

  • As a small business with 50 or fewer employees, you aren’t required to provide a group health plan. But many employers still want to support their employees with health coverage costs. One way to do this is by offering a stipend (click to learn more).

  • Group plans can be utilized by any size of group, 2 individuals and up. Group enrollment is available year-round, subject to carrier rules on participation and employer contribution. A simple census is collected and sent to carriers to give a wide range of options for health, dental, vision, and life coverage. These plans do not have up-front premium tax credits. Any offset of insurance premiums come from the employer.

    Use the form below to schedule a time to discuss you options

How We Help (3 easy steps)

  • Quick eligibility & savings check (5 minutes) – We confirm whether you’re self-employer, a small business employer, or in need of a group plan. We discuss and strategize how to estimate savings and budgets. HealthCare.gov

  • Plan comparison – We review networks, prescriptions, doctors, and total cost (premium + out-of-pocket).

  • Enroll with confidence – We help you apply correctly and keep documentation you’ll want for taxes and compliance. (We follow CMS privacy, security, and consent rules.)

    Q&A

How do I know if I qualify for savings or subsidies (premium tax credits)?

Eligibility is based on your projected annual household income and household size. Many people qualify for premium tax credits to lower monthly premiums.
Note: If you receive advance tax credits, you must reconcile them on your tax return versus actual income. The CMS/Marketplace rules require accurate estimation and adjustments.

When can I enroll in health insurance?

The Open Enrollment Period for individual Marketplace plans typically runs November 1 through January 15 (state rules may vary)
Outside that window, you may enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (e.g. due to certain life events) We can help you decide if you have a SEP

How and when do I pay my premium?

When you enroll via the Marketplace, you pay your monthly premiums directly to the insurance company (not to the Marketplace itself). Your coverage won’t begin until your first premium payment is made (if required)
Be sure to make timely payments to avoid loss of coverage.

I heard about other ways to pay for insurance for my employees as a small business. What are they?

“As a small business with 50 or fewer employees, you aren’t required to offer a traditional group health plan. But you may still want to support your employees’ health coverage. You have three main ways to do this: a stipend, a QSEHRA, or an ICHRA. Each works a little differently.”

Option 1: Stipend (Simplest, but Taxable)

  • A stipend is extra money added to your employees’ paychecks.

  • Employees decide how to use it — including paying their monthly health insurance premiums.

  • The stipend is taxable income and does not count as health insurance.

  • Simple to administer, but employees pay taxes on the money and don’t get the same tax benefits as other options.

Option 2: QSEHRA (Qualified Small Employer HRA)

  • Available to employers with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees.

  • Instead of taxable stipends, you can reimburse employees tax-free for health insurance premiums and eligible medical expenses, up to an annual IRS limit.

  • Employees must be enrolled in a qualified individual health plan (ACA-compliant) to receive reimbursements.

  • Advantage: Provides tax savings for both employer and employee, and employees still control their own coverage.

Option 3: ICHRA (Individual Coverage HRA)

  • Available to employers of any size.

  • You set up a monthly allowance for different classes of employees (e.g. full-time, part-time, salaried, location).

  • Employees use the allowance to buy individual ACA Marketplace coverage, and reimbursements are generally tax-free.

  • Cannot be combined with premium tax credits — employees must choose between the HRA allowance or Marketplace subsidies.

  • Highly flexible and scalable, but requires clear setup and administration.