Small business health insurance in Idaho can be a significant expense, but there are ways to make it more affordable. Idaho offers financial assistance to small businesses through the Idaho Health Insurance Risk Sharing Pool.
In Idaho, small business health insurance premiums can vary greatly depending on factors such as the number of employees, age, and health status. On average, a small business with 10 employees can expect to pay around $5,000 to $10,000 per month for health insurance.
The Idaho Health Insurance Risk Sharing Pool helps reduce costs by spreading the risk among participating businesses. This can result in lower premiums for participating businesses.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available to Idaho small businesses through Your Health Idaho, the state's health insurance marketplace. Idahoans can receive a tax credit that acts like an instant discount by lowering the cost of their monthly health insurance premium.
This tax credit is in addition to Cost-Sharing Reductions, which can be received when enrolling in a Silver Tier plan, reducing out-of-pocket costs for co-pays and prescriptions.
Employers can also consider a Healthcare Reimbursement Plan (HRP), which allows them to give select employees monthly allowances to spend on their own health insurance policy in a state health insurance exchange. This can help employers avoid severe financial impacts associated with healthcare reform.
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Financial Assistance Available?
Financial assistance is available to Idahoans who purchase health insurance through Your Health Idaho. This organization offers a tax credit that acts like an instant discount by lowering the cost of monthly health insurance premiums.
Idahoans can also receive additional savings through Cost-Sharing Reductions when they enroll in a Silver Tier plan, which reduces out-of-pocket costs for things like co-pays and prescriptions.
Employers can also explore options like Healthcare Reimbursement Plans (HRPs) to help their employees with healthcare costs. HRPs allow employers to give select employees monthly allowances to spend on their own health insurance policy in a state health insurance exchange.
Here are some key facts about financial assistance available to small businesses:
Workers' Compensation
Workers' Compensation helps protect your business from issues involving death, injury, or illness to an employee on the job.
Idaho workers' comp covers medical costs, additional legal fees, and any loss of income due to the injuries sustained.
BiBERK offers tailored compensation packages to suit your business needs.
Plan Options
In Idaho, small businesses have various health insurance options to consider. You can choose from five tiers of coverage on Your Health Idaho: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Catastrophic.
The tier names don't indicate the quality of care, but rather the percentage paid by you versus the health insurance carrier. Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums but require the highest out-of-pocket costs when you receive medical service.
Here are the plan options and their corresponding costs:
If you're under 30 or qualify for a hardship exemption, you may want to consider catastrophic coverage, which has low monthly premiums but very high deductibles.
Plan Coverage Levels
Plan coverage levels are a key consideration when choosing a health insurance plan. There are five tiers to choose from: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Catastrophic.
Each tier has a different balance of costs paid by the health insurance carrier versus the individual. Bronze plans have the health insurance carrier paying 60% of medical costs, while the individual pays 40%.
Silver plans offer a moderate balance, with the health insurance carrier paying 70% and the individual paying 30%. Gold plans have the health insurance carrier paying 80% and the individual paying 20%.
Platinum plans offer the best balance, with the health insurance carrier paying 90% and the individual paying 10%. Bronze plans generally have the lowest monthly premiums but require the highest out-of-pocket costs when receiving medical service.
If you qualify for Cost-Sharing Reductions, you must be enrolled in a Silver plan to lower your out-of-pocket costs.
PPO
PPO plans are the most common type of health insurance plan. They require employees to receive medical care from doctors or hospitals on the insurance company's list of preferred providers to get the highest level of coverage.
You'll need to check the insurance company's list of preferred providers to see if your doctor or hospital is included. This list can be found on the insurance company's website or by calling their customer service number.
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PPO plans can be a good option for people who want to have more control over their healthcare choices. However, it's essential to choose a plan that covers your regular healthcare providers to avoid unexpected medical bills.
If you're unsure about your plan's coverage, it's always a good idea to review your policy documents or contact your insurance company for clarification.
Hmo
HMO plans are a type of health insurance that offers a wide range of health care services through a network of providers.
Employees participating in HMO plans will typically need to select a primary care physician to provide most of their health care.
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Indemnity
Indemnity plans give you the freedom to visit any doctor or hospital, and the insurance company pays a set portion of the total charges. You'll often have to pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement.
COBRA coverage is available for 18-36 months, depending on qualifying events, and you'll get the same benefits you had with your previous employer. This means pre-existing health conditions are covered.
Individual plans have varying costs, and there are no rate caps, so you'll need to research and compare prices.
COBRA costs can be steep, ranging from 102% to 150% of group health rates.
Core Options
When evaluating your small business health insurance options, you should immediately consider three core options. These options are the foundation of your decision-making process and can greatly impact the well-being of your employees.
You can choose to offer traditional small business health insurance coverage, which is a common option for many businesses. Traditional plans typically cover a wide range of medical expenses and can be a good choice for employees with ongoing health needs.
Alternatively, you can offer a defined contribution health plan that reimburses employees for individual health insurance coverage. This option gives employees the flexibility to choose their own insurance plans and can be a cost-effective choice for both employers and employees.
Offering nothing is also a viable option, but it's essential to consider the potential consequences on your employees' well-being and your business's reputation.
Here are the three core options summarized in a table:
Is BiBerk the Best Option?
BiBerk is a solid choice for your business insurance needs. They're often less expensive and easier to work with than other insurance companies.
As part of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group, BiBerk has access to a wealth of resources and expertise. This means you can trust that your policy is rock-solid and reputable.
BiBerk's connection to Warren Buffett's company gives them a level of credibility and trustworthiness. Mr. Buffett's dedication to providing value to small businesses is evident in BiBerk's services.
Requirements for
In Idaho, employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance if they have any employees, regardless of the number.
You can receive substantial fines and criminal penalties if you're caught doing business with employees in Idaho without a workers' comp policy.
Even if a certain type of coverage isn’t required, financially protecting your company is one of the smartest business decisions you can make.
Consequently, you should consider coverage for your Idaho business carefully.
Coverage Details
Total Benefit Solutions offers comprehensive and flexible insurance plans that meet the unique needs of small- to mid-sized businesses.
Their focus is on providing high-quality, affordable coverage that fits the specific needs of each business. They also cater to organizations with employees working in foreign countries, which is a unique aspect of their services.
Their insurance plans are designed to be flexible, allowing businesses to customize their coverage to suit their specific requirements.
Plan Quality Ratings
Plan quality ratings are a way to measure how well a health insurance plan performs.
Health plans offered through Your Health Idaho may have an overall quality rating based on member experience, medical care, and health plan administration.
Plans are given ratings of one through five stars, with five being the highest.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) determine the rating based on data provided by Insurance Carriers.
Ratings for each year are based on data provided for the previous year, so in some cases, ratings aren’t available and display as Not Available.
This doesn’t mean the plans are low quality, it just means there isn’t enough data to give a rating.
Minimum Essential Benefits
All plans offered through Your Health Idaho meet the high standards of state and federal requirements. They are required to cover ten essential health benefits.
Doctor visits are one of the essential health benefits covered by these plans. You'll want to review your specific plan for details on any cost-sharing fees that may apply.
Rehabilitative and habilitative services are also covered, which can be a huge relief for those who need ongoing care or therapy. These services can help you recover from an injury or illness.
Preventive wellness and screenings are essential health benefits that can help you stay healthy and catch any potential issues early.
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Vision Coverage
With two plans to choose from, you'll have options to fit your needs.
You can select from hundreds of providers across Idaho, giving you a wide range of choices for your vision care.
VSP offers a wide range of benefits and services, making it easy to find what you need.
Save Money
Saving money on small business health insurance in Idaho is a top priority for many entrepreneurs. You can save up to 20% less than policies with other insurance companies by going directly through us.
Our streamlined process eliminates the need for middlemen or insurance brokers, which helps keep costs down.
Companies with fewer claims typically pay lower premiums, so maintaining a good claims history is key to saving money on your policy.
By choosing a policy that suits your small business's unique needs, you can avoid over-insuring and keep your costs in check.
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Resources and Options
If you're looking for resources to help your Idaho small business navigate health insurance, you're in luck. Business.Idaho.Gov, the Idaho Small Business Development Center, and the SBA Boise District Office are all great places to start.
You can also explore your small business health insurance options in Idaho, which include offering traditional small business health insurance coverage, a defined contribution health plan that reimburses employees for individual health insurance coverage, or offering nothing at all.
For group plans, there's a maximum 6-month look-back/12-month exclusionary period for pre-existing conditions on enrollees that don't have prior coverage. This means that if an employee has a pre-existing condition, they may not be covered for a certain period of time.
Here are some key facts to keep in mind when evaluating your small business health insurance options in Idaho:
Guaranteed coverage is available for companies with 2-50 employees, and eligible employees must work at least 30 hours a week. This can be a great option for small businesses that want to offer health insurance to their employees.
If you're considering offering health insurance to your employees, you should also be aware of the costs involved. In Idaho, the average "single" premium per enrolled employee for employer-based health insurance was $4,553 in 2011, with employees contributing 19% and employers contributing 81%.
Idaho Specific Information
Idaho has a unique set of laws and regulations governing small business health insurance, which can impact your coverage options.
The state of Idaho requires employers to provide health insurance to their employees, but there are some exceptions for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
Idaho has a relatively low cost of living, which can translate to lower health insurance premiums for small businesses.
In Idaho, small businesses can choose from a range of health insurance plans, including HMOs, PPOs, and catastrophic plans.
Idaho's health insurance market is relatively small, which can make it challenging for small businesses to find affordable coverage.
Some Idaho cities, such as Boise and Coeur d'Alene, have a higher cost of living, which can increase health insurance premiums for small businesses in these areas.
Idaho offers a small business health insurance tax credit, which can help offset the cost of health insurance premiums for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Tax Penalties
If you have more than 50 employees, you're subject to monthly penalties if you don't offer minimum essential coverage and at least one employee uses a premium tax credit to obtain health insurance through the state health exchange.
These penalties can be a significant financial burden, so it's essential to understand the rules and regulations surrounding small business health insurance in Idaho.
Starting January 1, 2015, employers with 50 or more full-time equivalents can face these penalties, while those with fewer employees are exempt.
As a small business owner, it's crucial to weigh the costs and benefits of offering health insurance to your employees, including the potential penalties for non-compliance.
If you have more than 50 employees, offering minimum essential coverage is a must to avoid these penalties and maintain a healthy bottom line.
Enrollment and Next Steps
Small businesses in Idaho can enroll in health coverage at any time throughout the year, similar to most states.
However, there's an open enrollment period each fall (November 15 to December 15) when coverage is guaranteed issue, regardless of employee participation and/or employer contributions.
For groups that can't meet the participation requirements and/or employer premium contribution requirements, this open enrollment period is a lifeline.
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To enroll in SHOP insurance, you can follow the steps outlined on HealthCare.gov or Pennie's website.
If you're considering offering health insurance to your employees, you have three core options to evaluate: offering traditional small business health insurance coverage, offering a defined contribution health plan, or offering nothing.
Here are your options in a nutshell:
- Offering Traditional Small Business Health Insurance Coverage
- Offering a Defined Contribution Health Plan
- Offering Nothing
Next Steps - Evaluate Your Options
As you consider your next steps, it's essential to evaluate your core options for providing health insurance to your employees. You have three main choices to consider.
Traditional small business health insurance coverage is still a popular option, but it can be costly and complex to administer. You'll need to research and compare different plans to find the best fit for your business.
A defined contribution health plan is another option that reimburses employees for individual health insurance coverage. This can be a more flexible and cost-effective approach, but it requires careful planning to ensure compliance with tax laws.
Offering nothing is also an option, but it may not be the most attractive choice for employees who value health insurance benefits. This decision should be made with careful consideration of your business's financial situation and goals.
Here are your core options laid out in a simple list:
- Offering Traditional Small Business Health Insurance Coverage
- Offering a Defined Contribution Health Plan that Reimburses Employees for Individual Health Insurance Coverage
- Offering Nothing
When to Enroll
Small businesses can enroll in health coverage at any time throughout the year. This is a departure from individual health insurance, which is only available during open enrollment or following a qualifying event.
However, there's an open enrollment period each fall (November 15 to December 15) when coverage is guaranteed issue, regardless of employee participation and/or employer contributions.
Employees can only enroll or make changes to their coverage during their employer's annual open enrollment period, a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying life event, or when they're initially eligible.
Here are the key dates to keep in mind:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get health insurance for a small business?
For a small business, the average annual premium for group health insurance is around $8,435 for single coverage and $23,968 for family coverage, with monthly payments of $703 and $1,997 respectively. These costs have increased by 7% over the past year, so it's a good idea to review your options to find the best coverage for your business.
How much does private health insurance cost in Idaho?
The average cost of private health insurance in Idaho is $490 per month, but costs can be significantly lower with income-based discounts. Find out how you can qualify for lower premiums.
Sources
- https://www.yourhealthidaho.org/coverage-basics/
- https://www.tbsmga.com/idaho/employers
- https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/ive-heard-a-lot-about-health-insurance-exchanges-but-what-are-shop-exchanges/
- https://www.biberk.com/where-we-insure/idaho-business-insurance
- https://www.peoplekeep.com/resources/small-business-health-insurance-in-idaho
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