Starting Friday, November 15th, through December 15th, your small business can enroll in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) without meeting the Minimum Participation Rate (MPR) or employer minimum contribution requirements.
This is a fantastic opportunity to offer your employees affordable health insurance, even if you don't meet the usual enrollment criteria.
But hurry! This waiver is only temporary. After December 15th, the standard MPR and employer contribution rules will resume.
Don't miss out on this chance to provide your employees with quality health coverage.
Guide to Enroll in SHOP Coverage
Understanding SHOP Eligibility
To enroll in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), your small business must meet the following criteria:
Employee Size:
Have between 1 and 50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
Use the FTE Calculator to determine your business's FTE count.
Must have at least 1 FTE employee who is not an owner, spouse, or family member of an owner or partner.
Employee Coverage:
Offer health insurance to all full-time employees (generally, those working 30 or more hours per week).
You are not required to offer coverage to part-time employees or seasonal workers.
Minimum Participation Rate:
At least 70% of the employees you offer insurance to must accept the coverage.
Use the SHOP Minimum Participation Rate (MPR) Calculator to determine the exact number of employees needed.
Some states may have different MPR requirements.
You are exempt from the MPR between November 15th and December 15th of each year.
Employees with other health coverage are not counted as "rejecting" your offer.
Business Location:
Have an office or employee worksite within the state where you want to use SHOP.
If your business operates in multiple states, you may need to enroll in SHOP in each state where you have employees.
Steps to Enroll in SHOP
Determine Eligibility:
Use the FTE Calculator to verify your business size.
Calculate the number of employees you need to meet the MPR.
Choose a SHOP Marketplace:
Contact your state's health insurance marketplace to learn more about SHOP enrollment and available plans.
You can also use the Health Insurance Marketplace website to find your state's marketplace.
Select a Health Plan:
Contact J. Randal Insurance to help you find the best coverage. They can assist you in reviewing available health plans and selecting the one that best meets your employees' needs and your budget.
Consider factors such as premium costs, deductibles, co-pays, and network coverage.
Enroll Your Employees:
Provide your employees with information about the available health plans and the enrollment process.
Assist your employees in completing the enrollment forms.
Submit the enrollment forms to your chosen health insurance carrier.
View Our Plans Online
Provider Networks
Saving money begins with our aggressively discounted PPO networks, which provide competitive discounts of up to 60%-70%. Even hospital costs are lower, thanks to per diem-based contracts at a majority of our participating hospitals. These higher discounts translate to greater cost savings on every claim.
Of course, in order to take advantage of these potential savings, your employees must have access to the providers who offer these discounts. That's why America's Choice contracts with more than 50 national and regional networks across the country, including PHCS. Some have as many as 600,000 providers, offering your employees exceptional choice and assuring that you get the discounts you expect. America's Choice is able to contract with additional PPO networks whenever needed.
NCD: Insurance, Reimagined
When it comes to quality care, it isn’t just about your eyes, or your teeth. It’s about you — all of you.
At NCD, we’re here to empower all of our members to make their best healthcare decisions, to reach their goals, and to enjoy a well-lived, healthy, and smile-worthy life. We want to change lives and Spread the Smile, and that’s what drives us to do better, and offer incredible, industry-first products.
Why pick and choose, when you could have so much more than insurance?
Individual Health Insurance on the Exchange
Individual health insurance plans on the exchange are subsidized by the government, making them more affordable for individuals and families who don't have employer-sponsored coverage.
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