Learn about your options for affordable small-business health insurance.
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Group health insurance can support your small business, strengthen your benefits package for employees, and support your team’s health. It can also help you avoid paying a shared responsibility payment to the IRS. The best small-business health insurance plans can cover employees’ health care needs while staying on target with your budget.
Understand your group health options with this guide.
Health Insurance Company | Financial Strength Rating | Customer Satisfaction Rating | Value Rating | Coverage Rating | Overall Rating |
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Aetna: Best for options | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Anthem: Best for combined plans | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield: Best for nationwide coverage | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Cigna: Best for nationwide coverage | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4 | 4.2 |
Humana: Best for large networks | 4.3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.8 |
Kaiser Permanente: Best for specialty services | 5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4 | 4.5 |
UnitedHealthcare: Best for employee-funded benefits | 4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Small–business group health plans may include a single insurance plan or a selection of plans available to employees. Group health insurance plans are among the most affordable plan types, and premiums are considerably lower than traditional individual health insurance plans.
These are your options for providing affordable small-business group health insurance:
Company founded | 1853 |
Coverage area | All 50 states |
A.M. Best rating | A+ |
BBB rating | A+ |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 4.5 to 2.5 |
Provider network | About 1.2 million health care professionals Over 700,000 primary care doctors and specialists Over 5,700 hospitals nationwide |
Established in 1853, Aetna is one of the oldest, leading diversified health insurance providers nationwide and has various employer plans. Aetna offers flexible, integrated, and affordable small-business group health insurance plans, including preferred provider organization (PPO), health maintenance organization (HMO), indemnity, exclusive provider organization (EPO), and stop-loss options. Ancillary plans include dental, vision, pharmacy, and supplemental coverage. Not all plans and benefits are available in every state.
What we like about Aetna health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of Aetna health insurance plans: |
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Aetna offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated Aetna.
Financial strength rating: 5 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 5 |
Value rating: 5 |
Coverage rating: 5 |
Company founded | 2004 |
Coverage area | 25 states |
A.M. Best rating | A+ |
BBB rating | F |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 4.5 to 2.5 |
Provider network | Large |
Formed in 2004, Anthem offers a diverse portfolio of integrated health care plans for individuals, families, and employers in 25 states. Anthem provides numerous HMOs, PPOs, and high-deductible health plans for small businesses of two to 50 employees and large businesses with 51 or more employees. It has one of the largest provider networks in the country. Businesses can combine many medical plans with pharmacy benefits, or you can add on affordable dental, vision, and supplemental plans.
What we like about Anthem health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of Anthem health insurance plans: |
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Anthem offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated Anthem.
Financial strength rating: 5 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 3 |
Value rating: 4 |
Coverage rating: 4 |
Company founded | 1929 |
Coverage area | All 50 states |
A.M. Best rating | A+ |
BBB rating | A+ |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 4 to 3 |
Provider network | More than 1.7 million doctors and hospitals |
Blue Cross Blue Shield has provided quality health insurance coverage since 1929. It offers plans in all 50 states, but not all plans are available everywhere, and regional offices have varying costs and coverages. BCBS has national networks, and most health care providers accept BCBS insurance plans. Learn more about BCBS health insurance products.
What we like about Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans: |
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Blue Cross Blue Shield offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Financial strength rating: 5 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 5 |
Value rating: 5 |
Coverage rating: 5 |
Company founded | 1981 |
Coverage area |
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A.M. Best rating | A |
BBB rating | A- |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 4 to 2.5 |
Provider network | A global network of more than 1.5 million health care providers, clinics, and facilities
More than 67,000 contracted pharmacies |
Established in 1981, Cigna is a global health service company that partners with providers who offer high-quality, cost-effective care for individuals, families, and employers. It offers an array of affordable small-business group health insurance plans, including HMO and PPO medical plans. Plans can be paired with health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and other products to improve your overall benefits package. Because Cigna plans are only available in 10 states, explore its limitations before choosing it as your provider.
What we like about Cigna health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of Cigna health insurance plans: |
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Cigna offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated Cigna.
Financial strength rating: 4.5 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 4.3 |
Value rating: 4.1 |
Coverage rating: 4 |
Company founded | 1961 |
Coverage area | All 50 states |
A.M. Best rating | A- |
BBB rating | A+ |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 4 to 2.5 |
Provider network | Large |
Since 1961, Humana has provided quality health insurance coverage. As one of the largest insurers in the nation, it offers employer plans in all 50 states. Its straightforward, affordable small-business group health insurance plans are tailored to businesses with two to 99 employees. Humana also offers solutions for large businesses with 100 or more employees.
What we like about Humana health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of Humana health insurance plans: |
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Humana offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated Humana.
Financial strength rating: 4.3 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 5 |
Value rating: 5 |
Coverage rating: 5 |
Company founded | 1945 |
Coverage area |
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A.M. Best rating | A+ |
BBB rating | A |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 5 to 4 |
Provider network | More than 22,000 Permanente Medical Group physicians and clinicians |
Kaiser Permanente has led the way with innovative health insurance approaches since 1945. It’s one of the nation’s largest managed-care organizations and not-for-profit health plans. Kaiser Permanente offers coverage for large businesses and small businesses of two to 50 employees, or two to 100 in California and Colorado. It provides flexible health plans for every sized business and specialty services like acupuncture, chiropractic, dental, and vision at reduced rates.
What we like about Kaiser Permanente health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of Kaiser Permanente health insurance plans: |
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Kaiser Permanente offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated Kaiser Permanente.
Financial strength rating: 5 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 4.5 |
Value rating: 4.3 |
Coverage rating: 4 |
Company founded | 1977 |
Coverage area | All states except New York |
A.M. Best rating | A- |
BBB rating | A+ |
NCQA accreditation | Yes |
NCQA rating | 4.5 to 2.5 |
Provider network | 1.3 million physicians and care professionals
6,500 hospitals and care facilities nationwide |
UnitedHealthcare was established in 1977 and provides health benefits for individuals, families, and employers. Its wide spectrum of insurance plans covers nearly every need, including group health insurance plans for small-business owners in every state except New York. Employers can choose from HMOs, PPOs, and high deductible health plans, some with tiered pharmacy benefit options. Small business owners can also add employee-funded benefits or split the cost on dental, vision, and life insurance coverage.
What we like about UnitedHealthcare health insurance plans: | The drawbacks of UnitedHealthcare health insurance plans: |
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UnitedHealthcare offers several health insurance options including:
UnitedHealthcare offers several health insurance options, including:
Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how we rated UnitedHealthcare.
Financial strength rating: 4 |
Customer satisfaction rating: 4.8 |
Value rating: 4.8 |
Coverage rating: 4.8 |
Tammy Burns is an experienced health insurance advisor. She earned her nursing degree in 1990 from Jacksonville State University, obtained her insurance billing and coding certification in 1995, and holds a health and life insurance license in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Burns is Affordable Care Act (ACA)-certified for health insurance and other ancillary, life, and annuity products. She maintains an active nursing license and practices private-duty nursing.
Burns’ background as a nurse, insurance biller and coder, and insurance consultant includes infectious disease, oncology, gynecology, phlebotomy, post operative, family medicine, geriatrics, home health, hospice, human resources, management, billing, coding, claims, fixed annuities, group and individual health and life products, and Medicare. She’s always been driven by a desire to help people, spending more than 25 years as a practicing nurse in hospitals, private doctors’ offices, home health, and hospice. As a nurse, Burns supported patients filing insurance claims with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies as well as responding to billing questions from confused patients.
Seeing firsthand how unsuspecting patients are frequently confused by an overly complex system they don’t understand led Burns to become an insurance agent and health care consultant, now helping people understand the medical system. Since becoming an insurance agent in 2013, she has worked with some of the largest and most reputable insurance carriers and agencies in the nation, and she has built a large and loyal clientele by way of her commitment to transparency and personalized service.
Tammy Burns is an experienced health insurance advisor. She earned her nursing degree in 1990 from Jacksonville State University, obtained her insurance billing and coding certification in 1995, and holds a health and life insurance license in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Burns is Affordable Care Act (ACA)-certified for health insurance and other ancillary, life, and annuity products. She maintains an active nursing license and practices private-duty nursing.
Burns’ background as a nurse, insurance biller and coder, and insurance consultant includes infectious disease, oncology, gynecology, phlebotomy, post operative, family medicine, geriatrics, home health, hospice, human resources, management, billing, coding, claims, fixed annuities, group and individual health and life products, and Medicare. She’s always been driven by a desire to help people, spending more than 25 years as a practicing nurse in hospitals, private doctors’ offices, home health, and hospice. As a nurse, Burns supported patients filing insurance claims with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies as well as responding to billing questions from confused patients.
Seeing firsthand how unsuspecting patients are frequently confused by an overly complex system they don’t understand led Burns to become an insurance agent and health care consultant, now helping people understand the medical system. Since becoming an insurance agent in 2013, she has worked with some of the largest and most reputable insurance carriers and agencies in the nation, and she has built a large and loyal clientele by way of her commitment to transparency and personalized service.