Group Insurance

This section addresses small employer group health insurance.  A small employer means any person, sole proprietor, self-employed individual, independent contractor, firm, corporation, partnership, or association that is actively engaged in business, has its principal place of business in Florida, and has 1-50 full time employees.  Small businesses with 2-50 employees are eligible for guaranteed-issue group plans, regardless of employees' previous health claims.

 

If this applies to you, here are some places to check for health insurance.  Remember, you can purchase health insurance for your employees through a commercial carrier, but you should also look into the professional and trade associations and organizations that you apply to your business or trade as well as local business organizations.  Here are some examples:

• Association/Trade Organizations
  www.floridatrend.com/small_biz_article.asp?aID=48935
• Chambers of Commerce in Sarasota County
  • Englewood/Cape Haze: www.englewoodchamber.com
  • Greater Sarasota: www.sarasotachamber.com
  • Gulf Coast Latin Chamber: www.latinchamber.org
  • Longboat Key/Lido Key/St Armands Key: www.longboatkeychamber.com
  • North Port: www.northportareachamber.com
  • Siesta Key: www.siestakeychamber.com
  • Venice: www.venicechamber.com
• Charter Health Plan
  Sarasota Memorial Hospital has created Charter Health Plan, an insurance plan open to small businesses with 2-50 employees who have not provided insurance coverage to employees for the six months preceding their application.  Charter Health Plan is self-supporting, financed through premiums paid by plan members.

• Small Group Insurance Providers in Florida [Division of Consumer Services]
• National Association for the Self-Employed
  www.nase.org
• National Federation of Independent Businesses
  www.nfib.com
• National Small Business Association
  www.nsba.biz/about.html
• Cover Florida
  www.coverfloridahealthcare.com/#

Tax-Favored Plans

Often referred to as Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), there are four different types of tax-favored plans.

> Click here to learn more about Tax-Favored Plans

 

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Special Note for the Self-Employed

If you are self-employed and need health insurance, you can obtain it through an open enrollment period during the month of August.  Coverage starts on October 1.  Small employers - sole proprietors, independent contractors or self-employed individuals - are eligible if they have just one employee.  You must be able to verify that you are operating an active business.  For companies offering coverage:

 

Small Group Insurance Providers in Florida [Division of Consumer Services]