Hey everyone, I started a small business a few years back. I stayed on Cobra for about 18 months, then used a broker when that expired to get on something called Golden Rule. Last year I thought I was super-smart and decided to do it on my own and went with, gasp, United. Super-terrible decision and I've paid the price.

I'm about to renew for next year. I've got my family and 2 employees. How should I go about switching insurance to something reasonable?

Get a local broker who will shop the major companies. BCBS, united, Humana. Cigna and Aetna next tier. That's assuming you want ppo. If want hmo, marketplace may be best bet. Your rates are set bc small company. So you get what you get.

My wife and I bought a business in GA several years ago and have 5 employees, only 3 of which use the insurance. Our broker found a BCBS plan sponsored by the GA Chamber of Commerce after our first year. Coverage went up and premiums down. Not sure TX has something like that but your broker should know.

Use broker for BCBS.
IF houston area, PM, and I can give you a name to use.

we're in the process of quoting for 9 employees.

Going with a level funded plan is going to be your best route, and BCBS would not provide a level funded quote for a reason that we're not "big enough".

UHC and Aetna were the most competitive, but it aint cheap.

AgPT06 said:

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Get a local broker who will shop the major companies. BCBS, united, Humana. Cigna and Aetna next tier. That's assuming you want ppo. If want hmo, marketplace may be best bet. Your rates are set bc small company. So you get what you get.

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Thank you.

texagco2003 said:

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My wife and I bought a business in GA several years ago and have 5 employees, only 3 of which use the insurance. Our broker found a BCBS plan sponsored by the GA Chamber of Commerce after our first year. Coverage went up and premiums down. Not sure TX has something like that but your broker should know.

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Talking with a broker today, will ask. Thanks for the tip.

86 Tex Ag said:

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Use broker for BCBS.
IF houston area, PM, and I can give you a name to use.

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Dallas here, but thank you.

OnlyForNow said:

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we're in the process of quoting for 9 employees.

Going with a level funded plan is going to be your best route, and BCBS would not provide a level funded quote for a reason that we're not "big enough".

UHC and Aetna were the most competitive, but it aint cheap.

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I'll ask. I've heard good things about Aetna. UHC has been awful. I think they invent new ways to screw me.

I've actually had UHC for the past 8 years and it hasn't been the worst experience of my life.

You just have to understand they exist to make money, not to help people. That helps a little bit.


If you want another suggestion, contact Jake Fisher with Higginbotham (JFisher@higginbotham.net).

OnlyForNow said:

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I've actually had UHC for the past 8 years and it hasn't been the worst experience of my life.

You just have to understand they exist to make money, not to help people. That helps a little bit.


If you want another suggestion, contact Jake Fisher with Higginbotham (JFisher@higginbotham.net).

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I was on BCBS for 13 years before going to UHC, so that's my comparison and it's not close.

my company uses assured partners in dallas. relatively pleased.

I have some friends in Houston that use a very inexpensive health plan vs others. The catch is that they have to use the Memorial (or whatever the large hospital chain is) hospital system. It works for them and their workers because there is enough around Houston and the suburbs.

Maybe they have something like that.

My family is on medshare plan. Traditional insurance is insane.

AgPT06 said:

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Get a local broker who will shop the major companies. BCBS, united, Humana. Cigna and Aetna next tier. That's assuming you want ppo. If want hmo, marketplace may be best bet. Your rates are set bc small company. So you get what you get.

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Yep. Sound advice here.

They're all about the same now, and your ability to tailor a plan for you and your organization are behind us, unfortunately. I miss those days.

AgGrad99 said:

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AgPT06 said:

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Get a local broker who will shop the major companies. BCBS, united, Humana. Cigna and Aetna next tier. That's assuming you want ppo. If want hmo, marketplace may be best bet. Your rates are set bc small company. So you get what you get.

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Yep. Sound advice here.

They're all about the same now, and your ability to tailor a plan for you and your organization are behind us, unfortunately. I miss those days.

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Yep, this is what I'm doing. Thanks guys.

I haven't had to do it in the last six years, but when I got the individual quotes based upon employee's age, sex, etc. it made retaining some of them very difficult. Had to set that knowledge aside but man the difference in rates was amazing.

I run a small business as well with 3 employees. Have no insurance at all and haven't carried any for 4 years now. I decided to risk it as insurance was costing me $1500 month for my family and I and we are on the young side. I have a wife and two kids. Now I increased my auto coverage by a lot and have life insurance.

I'm not against it but Health insurance is basically pointless unless you have any major medical issues. Doctor visits and such are not that expensive and unless you have high dollar plans with a co-pay you only get a discount at the doctor until you meet your deductible. Paying cash also gives you a discount as we have found out. I had one instance where we had an overnight stay at the hospital as my youngest had pneumonia and it wasn't that expensive and we got pretty hefty discounts for paying cash.

I'd like to see health insurance options that only cover majors medical issues and nothing else. Maybe there is and I just haven't ran across it yet and someone smarter than me can share.

All I know is in 4 years I have saved tens of thousands of dollars and it's not as scary as you think.

Can confirm. If you go this route, make it clear you do not have insurance. Our kid's doc refunded us all of the fees we paid in the year last year and the year before that.

Paying cash at the pharmacy goes a long way as well.

Was quoted $1750/month for family of 4. Never paid more than $500 in a single month that included everyone going to the dr and my son getting a rock removed from his ear.

I have had terrible experience with Higginbotham. Costly mistakes by their employees cost me upwards of $50k. I would consider using Arthur Gallagher or Lockton or anyone else.

Can I PM you?

You guys going without are braver than me.

Just takes one heart attack, car wreck, or something like a broken arm to rack up crazy amounts of bills.

Hi! I'm Bobbie Joe I'm an insurance broker with HST. I'm ready to assist you with all of your healthcare needs

Bobbie Kirk - My HST

Do you have a twin sister named Betty Lou?

Look into a PEO (G&A partners, etc.). They will put you into a group and use their buying power to give you better options. I have had good success utilizing this option.

I feel the same way, however we had private insurance but we were in the first five days on a policy where they would only pay for accidents and not sickness. I ended up sick in the ER. They billed insurance $13.5k. I called every provider and bill I got and every single one reduced my billed amount substantially. I paid $1400 total. My deductible on the insurance I had that didn't pay for it was $2500. It's a freaking joke

we use SANA Benefits, I have around 6-7 employees, it has been great for us, everyone really is happy with them. They focus on small business