For many Californians, shopping for health and dental insurance is a relatively rare necessity. This is due largely to the fact that forty-five percent of all Californians have private health insurance through their employers. And the majority of those are with small business group health insurance plans.
While there are several large employers throughout California and even here in Sonoma County, the bulk of employers are smaller entities and, consequently, opt for small business health insurance plans.
Almost ten percent or 1.6 million Californians purchase individual coverage, a majority of those making use of the state insurance marketplace under the ACA, known as Covered California. And a substantial portion of those looking to purchase insurance opt for both health and dental insurance plans.
For those whose insurance is provided through their place of work, there is rarely the need to make any major insurance decisions once they’ve initially enrolled. Their choices are often limited to a few health insurance companies, and once they’ve chosen a plan, most will keep it more or less indefinitely.
Except when they don’t.
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS: TIME FOR NEW HEALTH INSURANCE?
While there can be several situations for individuals that are categorized as Qualifying Life Events or QLEs, here are a few that are the most common:
Loss of health coverage due to:
- Leaving a job or losing an individual or student health insurance plan
- Losing your eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP
- Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent’s plan
Changes in the household such as:
- Getting married or divorced
- Having a baby or adopting a child
- A death in the family
Changes in your residence including:
- Moving to a different ZIP code or county
- A student moving to or from the place they attend school
- A seasonal worker moving to or from the place they both live and work
An increasingly common occurrence are individuals who choose to become self-employed or “retire” before they are eligible for Medicare and Social Security.
Whatever the reason, navigating the almost overwhelming sea of choices can be more than most individuals and even small business owners care to work through. For the vast number of small business owners looking to offer employees health insurance options, it can be confusing and complicated.
SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE AND J.C. LEWIS: NAVIGATING THE COURSE
You may be looking to change your company’s current small business health insurance options or deciding to offer health insurance for the first time. Regardless of the reasons, having a local agent to work with directly means you can be assured that your company’s insurance needs are met in a personal and immediate fashion.
And, when it comes to dealing with health insurance companies, having the guidance of a reliable health insurance broker can make all the difference between an unfortunate choice and an informed decision.
For example, take small business health insurance. When employers are looking to offer small business group health insurance coverage for their workers, their small business health insurance options might be varied, or, depending on their budget and number of employees, somewhat limited.
Business owners looking for health insurance, and maybe even dental and vision insurance, can find themselves saddled with a less-than-ideal health insurance plan without expert guidance and advice.
Which is why, at J.C. Lewis, we specialize in helping Sonoma County residents and small business owners through the complexities that can be the maze of health insurance plans.
How can a local health insurance broker like J.C. Lewis help you?
By researching, comparing, and assisting in purchasing the best health insurance coverage for your company. As a trusted local health insurance company, we can do all the difficult work for you. We understand the insurance industry and which California insurers offer which types of coverage. And that means that we can help you choose the best coverage, whether that’s for your employees, or for you and your family.
In addition, working with an experienced insurance agent means you’ll have the guidance of someone who knows the industry, understands health plan terminology, and keeps up with all the current changes in health coverage requirements.
And, along with helping you navigate the sea of small business health insurance, working with an experienced health insurance broker also means having someone who can advocate for you should you encounter issues with your insurance carrier.
J.C. LEWIS INSURANCE: FOR EXPERT HELP NAVIGATING YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN OPTIONS
At J.C. Lewis Insurance, we want to be your guide. We are a local, family-owned firm that has been serving Sonoma County since we were founded in 1979. Our team of expert brokers offer individual and family health insurance plans as well as providing insurance plans for small business owners only from the leading health insurance carriers licensed to do business in California.
We are a team of experienced, professional, and local insurance brokers, and are licensed and certified by each of each insurance carrier to offer coverage to individuals, families, and small group employers. In addition, we can assist our Sonoma County seniors by offering Medicare supplement insurance and prescription drug plans.
When you’re shopping for health insurance for your employees or for you and your family, or even dental and vision insurance coverage, you are likely to have several questions and concerns.
At J.C. Lewis Insurance Services, we welcome your questions about insurance coverage, and you can be confident that we will help you find the right solution.
