Group Health Insurance for Small Businesses
Group medical coverage refers to a single policy issued to a group (typically a business with employees), that covers all eligible employees and sometimes their dependents.
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, employers have more options to purchase health insurance. Employers can purchase health insurance through a marketplace, sometimes known as an exchange. Access Health CT (AccessHealthCT.com) is Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace. It offers Connecticut small businesses a range of qualified health care coverage options from health insurance carriers and public health care programs.
On AccessHealthCT.com, you’ll find a variety of insurers with plans that are divided into 4 categories – Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze based on how you and the plan will share the costs of care. For example, a Gold Plan has a higher monthly premium but lower out-of-pocket costs; a Silver Plan has a lower monthly cost than Gold plans but higher out-of-pocket costs, and Bronze Plans have the lowest premiums but the highest out-of-pocket costs. The categories have nothing to do with the amount or quality of care you receive. All plans sold through the Marketplace provide the same essential health benefits, cover pre-existing conditions and provide free preventive services.
Essential Benefits
All insurance plans must cover a set of essential benefits. These benefits include:
- Ambulatory care (outpatient) services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance abuse services
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services, including annual physicals and mammograms
- Chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including dental and vision