Health insurance for businesses
Offering health coverage is a major decision for your business. When looking for a plan that fits the needs of your business and employees, you should carefully consider things like the cost to you and your employees, and the health services covered.
For a basic guide on some health insurance products and services that may be available to small businesses, check out these resources. You can also contact a licensed agent or broker for more help.
Note: Business owners with no employees can use the Marketplace for individuals and families to enroll in a health plan that best fits their needs.
Group health insurance coverage
A group health insurance plan, like a plan purchased through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) or otherwise from a private insurance company, provides coverage to eligible employees. Business owners can offer their employees one plan or a selection of plans to choose from.
Small employers (generally those with 1-50 employees) may be eligible to purchase coverage through SHOP.
Enrolling in a SHOP plan is generally the only way for an eligible small employer, including non-profits, to claim the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.
- Learn more about purchasing insurance through SHOP
- See SHOP plans and prices
- How the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affects small businesses
If there are no SHOP plans available in your area, or your business is a large employer, you can work with an insurance company or licensed agent or broker to find out what group plans may be available to you, or learn more using the resources below.
Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)
The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) helps businesses provide health coverage to their employees.
SHOP insurance is generally available to employers with 1-50 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). If you have fewer than 25 employees, you may qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, if you buy SHOP insurance. Learn more about SHOP eligibility rules and the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.
If you’re a sole proprietor or self-employed with no employees, you may be able to get individual coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace for individuals and families.
Enrolling in SHOP insurance
Employers have two options for enrolling in SHOP insurance:
- Through an insurance company
- With the assistance of a SHOP-registered agent or broker
Benefits of SHOP Insurance
- You control the coverage you offer and how much you pay toward employee premiums.
- You can choose from high-quality private health insurance plans that meet the needs of your business and employees.
- You can choose to offer health only, dental only, or both health and dental coverage. If offering dependent coverage and an employee enrolls, the employee’s dependents can enroll in health only, dental only, or both health and dental coverage.
- You can start coverage any time of the year.
- If you have fewer than 25 employees, you may qualify for a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit worth up to 50% of your premium costs (up to 35% for tax exempt/non-profit employers). You can still deduct from your taxes the rest of your premium costs not covered by the tax credit. The tax credit is generally available only when an employer enrolls in a SHOP plan. Use the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Estimator to find out if you may qualify and how much you may save.
How to know if you qualify for SHOP
- SHOP insurance is available to employers with 1-50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in most states (in some states, employers with 1-100 employees qualify). Use our FTE Employee Calculator to find out if you qualify to use SHOP.
- You must offer SHOP coverage to all of your full-time or FTE employees – generally those working 30 or more hours per week on average.
- In many states, at least 70% of employees offered coverage must accept the offer, or be covered by another form of coverage, for the employer to participate. (Employers who apply for or renew SHOP coverage between November 15 and December 15 each year can enroll without meeting this requirement.) For help calculating the SHOP minimum participation rate (MPR) in your state, visit the MPR Calculator.
- You must have an office or employee work site within the state whose SHOP you want to use.
Preview plans and prices now
Browse health and dental plan information right now. See the available plans and sample prices based on the number and ages of employees and their dependents.