If you are opening a new business, you have options on affordable Health Insurance.
First, look to your chamber of commerce, alumni association, commercial association, or other professional associations; they may have health insurance available to their members.
Other Organizations (State, City, Private):
Brooklyn Health Works www.brooklynhealthworks.com this program provides a low cost health insurance plans and pharmacy discount card to northern Brooklyn’s employees.
Small business employees, small business owners, and uninsured workers of small businesses that do not provide insurance, qualify for this plan.
Healthy NY www.healthyny.com this program run by New York State, gives access to health insurance to small businesses that have not provided insurance in the last 12 months. This program is also available to sole proprietors and uninsured workers whose employers do not provide health insurance.
Health Pass www.healthpass.com this program mission is to provide small businesses with affordable health plans that offer over 30 coverage options from different carriers and 2 dental plans. This program is a partnership between The New York Business Group on Health, The City of New York and The Health Insurance Industry.
LIA Health Alliance www.liahealthalliance.com provides small businesses in NYC and Long Island access to 5 insurers. This program is affiliated with the Long Island Association.
Working Today www.workingtoday.org the Freelancer’s union offers a group health insurance and other benefits to freelancers, temps, consultants and contingent workers in NYC.
Resources:
To check on your provider, whether they are licensed to sell in your state, open complaints, and relevant financial information, visit:
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners website at www.naic.org.
What types of coverage are available?
Traditional Indemnity Plans, these plans simply reimburse the employee for covered expenses. Due to the high cost of this plans, employers are opting for manage care plans.
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), this organization offers a large selection of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers. In this plan, all treatment is referred to in-network providers (out of network providers are not covered). A Primary Care Physician (PCP) manages treatments. The PCP makes referrals to in-network specialists. A few HMOs offer plans with direct access to their in-network specialists.
HMO with Point of Service (POS) plans, these plans allow for treatment by out-of-network health care providers. The patient is responsible for the deductible and co-insurance cost, while the HMO will reimburse the patient for the allowed expenses (read your HMOs’ definition of reasonable and customary allowances).
Preferred Provider Plan (PPO), this plan is similar to a POS, with the difference that it allows direct access to in-network specialists without a referral from a Primary Care Physician. PPO plans are more expensive than HMOs.
For Insurance Education and Information:
The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute offers consumer guides on how to obtain and keep health insurance for individuals and small businesses by state. For more information visit www.healthinsuranceinfo.net.
Health Insurance in-Depth www.healthinsuranceindepth.com in this website you will find information about group health insurance by state.
Plan for your Health www.planforyourhealth.com is an initiative by AETNA and the Financial Planning Association to educate the public on Health insurance benefits
and financial choices available to them on different stages of their life.
What are the costs?
For group coverage (and group rates) you can expect cost from $186 to $287 a month for individual, to $567 to $879 for family plans (representative rates obtained from www.workingtoday.org). Rates vary depending on the plan and the organization. Some organizations have income requirements for eligibility. Individual rates are more expensive than group insurance rates.
For online health insurance quotes:
EhealthInsurance.com www.ehealthinsurance.com
To find a Health Insurance Broker in your area visit:
The National Association of Health Underwriters at www.nahu.org.
Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America www.independentagent.com
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors www.naifa.org
Association of Health Insurance Advisors www.ahia.net
