Small Business Health Options Program
By Robin L. Knight, President
I wanted to take this opportunity to
report on the latest news coming out
of Sacramento regarding the Covered
California Health Insurance Plans for
Small Businesses. The following was
released to the public on Aug. 1.
Covered California, the state's new health benefit exchange,
announced the insurance carriers and rates for its small-group
market, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).
While rates vary by region, Covered California Shop premiums
are generally comparable to 2013 small-group market rates
and, in some cases, can save small businesses money on their
premiums.
This program applies to California Businesses with 50 or fewer
employees and provides competitively priced, quality health
insurance plans similar to those usually only available to larger
employers.
Covered California has selected the following health plans to
participate in SHOP for San Bernardino and Riverside Counties:
Blue Shield of California
Health Net
Kaiser Permanente
Basic facts Small Employers should know regarding SHOP:
Small Businesses are not required to enroll in the plan and
there is no penalty for not participating at this time.
Federal Tax Credits are only available to small businesses
that enroll through the SHOP program. You may earn up to
50 percent credit on premiums you, the employer, pays for
employee premiums.
You may begin to enroll in SHOP plans when the exchanges
open as of Oct. 1, but benefits will not start until Jan. 1.
Both HMOs and PPOs will be sold through licensed agents who
are trained and certified by Covered California.
Prices have been set for the SHOP plan and additional pricing
information is available through your local agent or by giving
me a call at (951) 312-8934.
BEAUMONT NOW | SEPTEMBER 2013
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