Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Ohio remains one of the fastest and most attractive states in which to start and operate a small business. This fact has led both entrepreneurs and employees alike to look for affordable, inexpensive health insurance options. So, in the arena of small business health insurance, Ohio and her base of brave merchants, remains in great need of reputable insurance plans and providers with which to deal.

Whether its individual health insurance policies, group health insurance, family health insurance, or an employer sponsored health insurance plan, you will be well served by interviewing, getting quotes, and doing a little background research on at least three different insurers.

Getting Health Insurance Quotes

I highly recommend beginning your research online before speaking to an agent in person.

Almost every carrier these days has an online quote form that allows you to get a good (some times accurate) idea of what your health insurance premium will cost based on the initial health questions you answer. One other cost factor will be whether you desire long term (greater than 6 months of continuous coverage) or short term health insurance (less than 6 months).

Also, when applying for health insurance, no exam options can increase individual and group premium rates.

Choosing the Right Health Insurance Providers

When you begin evaluating providers to determine your needs, pay close attention to the verbiage of the health insurance plans. Many health insurance programs don’t cover certain conditions, especially if they are pre-existing.

Make sure your medical coverage will cover your specific needs and concerns, i.e. pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension, etc.

I have come across a couple of good resources to aid in your health insurance choice. Having your small business provide for your health care needs is a wise choice financially.

Click this link: Assurant Health: FREE Online Quote. Then run quotes for both long term and short term coverage so that you can compare the premiums. There is also a link for a group plan for all of your employees.

We are witnessing in one of the most important areas of concern for small business, health insurance, Ohio remains a leader in growth and necessity.

Business Health Insurance (Small) – Ohio

Year after year, Ohio consistently leads the U.S. in business expansion for many reasons. These companies know the benefits Ohio can provide to North American operations.

Yet in spite of all of the wonderful growth and expansion, a new challenge has arisen to which both business owners and their employees must answer: The Increased Need for Health Insurance.

Affordable health insurance options are needed to meet the demand for medical coverage within these companies. Employer sponsored health insurance for employees and individual health insurance policies for the business owners must be competitive in premium, program, and choice of providers.

Health insurance premiums will largely depend on the health and medical history of those seeking coverage. But, most group health insurance plans will not single out individuals, yet give everyone in your company equal coverage for the same price.

Getting Health Insurance Quotes

It’s best to get quotes from multiple sources before making a final decision on a carrier for your business. Most of the leg work for this process can be done online by providing simple information.

Click this link: Assurant Health: FREE Online Quote. Then run quotes for both long term and short term coverage so that you can compare the premiums. There is also a link for a group plan for all of your employees.

As the number of people without health insurance continues to rise, government on both the state and federal level have begun to look at one of the largest contributing factors to the growing problem of small business health insurance: small business owners and their employees who can’t afford coverage.

Currently, there are about 47 million uninsured people in the U.S., almost 20 million are employed by small businesses or are self employed — this number is increasing by an average of more than 500,000 a year since 2000.

It is estimated that since 2000, insurance premiums have almost doubled. In an effort to help ease this burden, state authorities are taking a variety of different approaches. Arizona, for one, is extending tax credits to small business employers that provide medical coverage for their employees.

Others states like Montana and New Mexico are exploring insurance purchasing pools that let small businesses group together so that they can have the same purchasing strength and discounts of larger businesses.

Rising Health Care Costs = Higher Premium

The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, estimates that smaller companies pay 18 percent more (for the same insurance) than big companies. This makes the cost of insurance a much larger burden for a smaller business.

After the owner of a florist shop in Culpeper, Virginia turned 60, the premiums he paid for his three employees he covered raised by more than 50 percent last year. Because he pays the full premium for these employees, he now pays almost $1,800 a month, as apposed to the $1,100 he once paid.

Small Business = Limited Capital

Many small businesses don’t have the moneys available to keep up with health insurance premiums.

“As a state, we need to do whatever we can to make small business more successful since they are the engine that drives our state’s economy and they employ a great percentage of our citizens.  To that end, affordable health insurance has been a concern of small business for many years,” said Sen. Glenn McConnell, a small-business owner.  “Health-group cooperatives are another tool to help small business help themselves and help their employees by being able to purchase health insurance by increasing their bargaining power in the marketplace.”

Lack of Benefits = Less Quality Employee Choices

In March of 2007, legislative leaders and small-business owners from across South Carolina calling for passage of a bipartisan bill that would establish health-group cooperatives in South Carolina.

“In the competition for workforce and intellectual capital, being able to provide health insurance for employees is increasingly key to businesses’ ability to compete,” Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina said. “Unfortunately, current laws put affordable health insurance for employees out of reach for far too many small businesses – and we believe this legislation would be an important step toward addressing that.”

One thing you can do right now is to begin shopping for more competitive health coverage.

Click this link: FREE Online Quote. Then run quotes for both long term and short term coverage so that you can compare the premiums. There is also a link for a group plan for all of your employees.

The growing problem of small business health insurance has finally become a prominent concern for our state and national leaders. Let’s see what becomes of the issue as we get closer to major elections.