California Small Business health insurance

Small Group health insurance offers many options in California. You can easily get an Small Group health instant quote for small business insurance or continue below for more valuable health insurance information for your small business.

EmployeeElect Medical Plans

Most employers choose Anthem Blue Cross's "flagship” product portfolio, EmployeeElect. Standard employee participation and employer contribution requirements apply, with flexibility for future changes and 16 plans to choose from.

12 PPO plans, several in each category of priority and need:

Affordable Protection - 3 plans that provide a range of coverage levels at Blue Cross' most affordable prices

Top-selling Choices - 3 plans that strike a popular balance between cost and comprehensive benefits

Richest Benefits - 2 high-end plans designed for those who want the most comprehensive coverage

Financially Savvy Options - 4 innovative plans that put members in the driver’s seat
with "first-dollar coverage” or Health Savings Account compatibility

4 HMO plans, providing the simplicity and predictability that many members want most.

EmployeeChoice Program

If you want maximum HMO choice and flexibility for your workers, EmployeeChoice, a special Blue Cross program, may be the ideal solution. Five Blue Cross plans are packaged in EmployeeChoice…our only program designed to be offered with another carrier’s HMO plan as well. The EmployeeChoice program includes:

5 popular Blue Cross plans (one HMO and four PPOs drawn from EmployeeElect)

Option to offer another carrier's HMO, too.

Except for this additional HMO flexibility, EmployeeChoice is part of EmployeeElect, with the same requirements and guidelines, ability to integrate Workers’ Compensation and add Life, Dental & Vision, receive special discounts and savings, etc.

BeneFits Portfolio

For employers that may be offering coverage for the first time, Blue Cross has packaged a solution that makes a benefit program easier to understand, easier to afford, and easier to qualify. With our BeneFits Portfolio you get:

A package of five progressive plans

                Four PPOs and one HMO
                Each plan adds more benefits than the one before-including two
                comprehensive plan options and one that even has some built-in dental and
                vision benefits

More affordable rates for California health insurance

Lower employee participation and employer contribution requirements

All the advantage that Blue Cross coverage helps every employer enjoy...guaranteed coverage for AB1672 qualifying groups, potential tax savings for your company, 12-month initial rate guarantee, discounts and the ability to integrate Workers’ Compensation, Life, Vision and Dental.

Employer Contribution Options

Employers can share monthly health insurance premium costs with their employees. The employer chooses a contribution option and pays at least a minimum amount of each employee’s monthly premium (dependent contributions are optional). Employees cover any remaining premium balance themselves through payroll deductions.


	Employer Contribution Options
Type of Coverage:	Traditional (percentage applied to all plans employees are enrolled in)	Percentage & Plan* (percentage based on the price of one designated plan only)	Fixed Dollar (dollar amount, in $5 increments, applied to all plans employees are enrolled in)
Medical Plan Portfolios/Programs
EmployeeElect	50% to 100%	50% to 100%	$100 or more
EmployeeChoice	50% to 100%	50% to 100%	$100 or more
BeneFits	25% to 100%	25% to 100%	$50 or more
Dental	50% to 100%	N/A	$15 or more
Vision	50% to 100%	N/A	N/A
Life	25% Minimum Employer Contribution

One of a Kind Choice and Control

Under this one-of-a-kind Blue Cross structure, employers can offer any or all of Blue Cross’ quality health plans to their workers while maintaining optimum control of company costs. Employees can then be empowered to choose the coverage which best fits their unique needs and budgets.

Section 125 Premium Only Plan (P.O.P)

With a Premium Only Plan (P.O.P.), employers and employees enjoy even greater opportunity for savings. P.O.P. is not a health plan – it’s really just a simple IRS sanctioned administrative option that allows workers to use their pre-tax dollars to pay their share of benefit premiums. As a result, employee take-home pay is increased and total taxable payroll is reduced, saving the employer on FICA and other taxes.

Guide provided by http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/ Link here

Group Health Insurance

Group health insurance is insurance you may get through your job or union, or as a retiree. It usually costs less than California individual health insurance, which you buy on your own.

When you start a new job, ask how to sign up for health insurance, when your health insurance starts, and what your share of the cost is.
Compare California medical plans. Look at all the plans your employer offers to find the one that offers the most benefits you need.
You can add new dependents to your health plan when you marry, have a baby, or adopt a child. You may also be able to add a domestic partner. When you add someone to your health plan, your monthly premium may go up.
Most employers have Open Enrollment in the fall of each year. Open Enrollment is when you can change your benefit choices. For example, you can change health plans if your employer offers more than one plan.

Waiting Periods and Pre-Existing Conditions

The group health plan at your new job cannot refuse to cover you if you have a pre-existing condition (an injury or illness that started before you joined the plan). However, some plans have a waiting period before the pre-existing condition is covered. The waiting period cannot be more than 6 months.

There is no waiting period if you have not had diagnosis or care for your injury or illness in the last 6 months.
There is no waiting period if you had previous health insurance for 6 months with no gaps of more than 62 days before your last insurance ended and the new insurance starts. This is called having creditable coverage.
There is a shortened waiting period if you had health insurance for less than 6 months with no gaps of more than 62 days before your last insurance ended and the new insurance starts.

Keep Your California Group Health Insurance

Federal COBRA and Cal-COBRA are laws that help you keep your group health insurance for a certain amount of time if your job ends, your hours are cut, or you change jobs and there is a waiting period before your new health insurance starts. You will have to pay the premiums yourself. But it may cost less than California individual health insurance, which is insurance that you buy on your own. And the benefits may be better.

These laws also help your spouse, former spouse, or child keep health insurance after your job ends, or after divorce or your death.

Before Your Health Insurance Ends

Get a letter from your health plan that says how long you were insured. This is called a Certificate of Creditable Coverage. You may need this letter when you get new group health insurance or apply for individual health insurance.
Shop for new insurance. Compare the cost of COBRA to the cost of individual health insurance.
If you buy individual health insurance, wait until you are approved before you end your old insurance. It can take a month or two from the time you apply for California health insurance until you are approved.

14 years of experience in California Small Group health insurance since 1994

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AT THIS ONE WEBSITE, you can access benefits, rates, and even apply online across all these major carriers. We are independent brokers for these carriers and the rates and benefits quoted at this site are best available. It is very important to compare the best options from each carrier to find the right choice for you as each carrier's health insurance plans will be different in pricing and benefit.