Illinois Small Business Health Plans
You only need 2 full time employees to get an Illinois small business health plan. Illinois Small Business Health plans are offered with no underwriting, and same elite networks offered to large companies.
Affordable Health Coverage for Your Team
Employer Health Insurance Benefits from Independent Broker vs PEO (ADP, Justworks, Rippling)
| Aspect | Independent Broker (Smart Insurance Agents) | PEO (ADP/Gusto) |
|---|---|---|
| Personalization | Fully customized insurance solutions tailored to your specific business needs and workforce demographics | One-size-fits-all plans with limited customization options |
| Cost Savings | Direct access to multiple carrier options, ability to negotiate better rates and find most cost-effective plans | Higher overall costs due to PEO markup and limited carrier selection |
| Flexibility | Ability to mix and match plans, change carriers, and adjust coverage annually with no long-term commitments | Locked into PEO's pre-selected plans with less freedom to modify |
| Service Quality | Dedicated personal agent who provides hands-on support, understands your unique business context | Impersonal customer service, often routed through call centers |
| Compliance Support | Specialized guidance on ACA, HIPAA, and state-specific insurance regulations | Basic compliance support, may miss nuanced regulatory details |
| Additional Benefits | Can bundle multiple insurance products (health, dental, vision) with potential volume discounts | Limited to standard packages with less room for creative benefit design |
| Administrative Burden | Minimal administrative work; broker handles most paperwork and negotiations | Requires transferring HR functions to PEO, potentially losing internal control |
| Carrier Relationships | Strong, direct relationships with multiple insurance carriers to leverage best options | Limited to PEO's pre-negotiated carrier relationships |
| Cost Transparency | Clear, itemized breakdown of insurance costs and potential savings | Often hidden fees and less transparent pricing structure |
| Contract Terms | No long-term binding contracts; easy to adjust as business evolves | Typically require multi-year commitments with penalties for early exit |
New Small Business Owners
If you are a small business owner looking for health insurance coverage with the same network as large employer coverage this is for YOU. We have helped clients with different business niches.
- Therapists
- Barbers
- Dental offices
- Construction companies
- Medical Practice
- Law Practices
- Grocery Stores
- Pet Groomers
- 1099 Self Employed
Established Small Business
If you currently offer group health insurance benefits through a PEO like ADP, Ripling, Paychex, or Gusto, YOU are missing on $$$ savings.
So how can you save by switching to us as your agent of record:
✅Dedicated licensed insurance agent, and not a Sales Rep!
✅Dedicated Email, Phone Number, and SMS.
✅Annual plan review and compare for savings potential. Compare similar plans from different carriers.
✅Competitive business analysis and market offerings.
✅No hidden fees, technology subscriptions, minimum enrollments, or annual contracts.
Benefits of Offering Illinois Small Business Health Plans:
%
Productivity
Source: MetLife, Workforce Insights, EBTS 2023 Data Visualization
%
Talent Attraction
%
Retention
Talent Attraction
Dependents Coverage
Better Healthcare Access
3 Steps to Enroll in a Small Business Health Plan
01
Discover Your Perfect Fit
Kick off your journey to better health coverage! Answer a handful of friendly questions about your business and healthcare needs. It’s as simple as a friendly chat!
02
Explore Your Options
Unveil a world of small business health plans tailor-made for you! Take a peek at the plans in your neck of the woods. Compare coverage choices and catch a sneak peek of what your monthly costs might look like.
03
Make It Official
You’ve found the one (or ones!) that tick all the right boxes. Now comes the exciting part—getting covered! Dive into easy application options: online, email, or good old-fashioned phone call. It’s your call
Illinois Small Business Health Insurance Carriers
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest health insurance providers in Illinois, offering a range of health insurance plans for small businesses. They provide various options, including Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, and Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is a prominent health insurance carrier that offers small business health insurance plans in Illinois. They offer a variety of plan options, including HMO, PPO, and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), along with additional services such as wellness programs and telemedicine.
Aetna
Cigna
Must Knows
💡 Did you know that Illinois Small Business Health Plans are not available on the Marketplace?
Many hospital systems in Illinois only accept plans that are offered by business. Employer sponsored plans have larger network of providers nationwide. For example, Lurie Children Hospital and Rush Hospital primarily accept employer sponsored plans or Medicare and Medicaid. Marketplace plans are not accepted at Rush University. Northwestern Hospital only accepted BCBS IL PPO and HMO Precision from the Marketplace.
💡 Did you know that Illinois Small Business Health Plans can be offered to out of state employees?
If you have a small business in Illinois, your group health coverage can be offered to out of state employees. In addition, Illinois employees can benefit from national PPO network nationwide.
💡 Did you know that Illinois Small Business Health Plans offer Platinum tiered plans?
Illinois Small Business Health Plans have different metal tiers from Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Illinois Small Business health plans with low deductibles as low as $0 and coinsurance of 10%.
Case Study Summary: Maximizing Savings and Efficiency Through Group Health Plan Enrollment
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Still have questions? We’ve got answers.
What are Illinois Small Business Health Plans?
How do Small Business Health Plans differ from individual plans?
How many employees does a business need to qualify for these plans?
In Illinois, the definition of a small business can vary, but typically ranges from 2 to 50 employees. Some plans might have slightly different criteria, so it’s important to check with insurance providers for specific details.
Are small business health plans mandatory in Illinois?
What types of coverage are included in these plans?
Can employees choose their own doctors within these plans?
Can I offer different plans to different employees?
Yes, many small business health plans offer flexibility to offer different plan options to different employee groups based on their needs. For example, you might offer different plans to full-time and part-time employees.
Are there any tax benefits for offering these plans?
Yes, there can be tax benefits for both employers and employees. Employer contributions to employee premiums are often tax-deductible for the business, and employees’ contributions are usually made with pre-tax dollars, reducing their taxable income.
Can small businesses change plans during the year?
I'm self employed and have an LLC, can I get a small business health plans?
What is the eligibility to sign up for a small group plan?
Are the premiums paid by the employer tax deductible for the business?
Is there an enrollment period to start group coverage for my small business?
Can I decline my employer’s health coverage?
What are the benefits of offering group health coverage to my employees?
How many full time employees do I need to start a small group plan?
Do small group plans ask for medical questions in underwriting?
A small business needs at least 2 full time employees to start a group policy.