Small group does not mean small detail.
Small Michigan employers get the same level of detail we give larger ones: a per-employee view of cost, every lower-cost option on the table, and a written read of the renewal. Here is what you can expect us to put in front of you.
Six details we provide to small groups
A Per-Employee Analysis
Cost shown employee by employee and by tier on the same census, so you see who pays what under each option.
Every Lower-Cost Option
Every quote below your current rate, including high-deductible plans, not a shortlist.
Contribution Strategies Side by Side
A company percentage and a flat employer dollar amount compared, so you can see the effect on employees.
A Written Renewal Read
Four documents are the whole ask. You get a specific answer in writing, usually in about a week, with no obligation.
Rating Explained
Why small-group renewals are generally rated on community factors, and what that means for your own claims.
A Clean Census and Enrollment
Eligibility and census errors are priced into the year, so we treat the file as part of the quote.
Structures small groups ask about
Level-Funded Plans
A fixed monthly payment that covers expected claims, administration and stop-loss, with unused claims possibly returned.
QSEHRA
A reimbursement option for small employers that do not offer a group health plan.
ICHRA
Reimbursement for individual coverage, with amounts that can vary by employee class.
HSA With an Employer Contribution
A qualifying high-deductible plan paired with an account the employer can fund.
Voluntary Benefits
Employee-paid coverage that widens choice without adding employer cost.
All the Structures in One Place
Funding and account options compared side by side.
Rules that matter to a smaller employer
ACA Affordability Under 50
Whether the affordability test applies to your size, and what it means if it does not.
Michigan Earned Sick Time
Michigan sick time rules cover employers with one or more employees.
COBRA for Smaller Employers
Notices and deadlines that smaller employers often miss.
Questions from small Michigan employers
What is the difference between small group and large group?
Small groups are generally rated on community factors set in the carrier’s filings. Larger groups are rated more on their own claims. The definitions depend on the rules that apply, so we confirm yours.
What do you need to review our small-group renewal?
The renewal letter, current plan summary, contribution split by tier and enrolled counts by tier. Send what you have, even if it is not complete.
How long does a renewal review take?
For smaller groups, usually about a week once we have the documents.
Will you show every lower-cost option?
Yes. We show every quote below your current rate, including high-deductible plans.
Can we see the cost per employee?
Yes. We show it by employee and by tier on the same census, under more than one contribution strategy.
Do small employers have to offer health insurance?
Most employers under 50 full-time equivalents are generally not subject to the ACA employer mandate, but state and plan rules still apply. We help you confirm what applies to you.
Ready? Send us your renewal, or talk it through with someone first. General information, not legal or tax advice.
Where these details come from.
IRS Publication 969: HSAs and other tax-favored health plans, including HRAs.
Michigan LEO: Earned Sick Time Act: State guidance on ESTA.
U.S. DOL: Health plans and benefits: Employer plan administration and compliance resources.
Send us your renewal.
We’ll tell you whether it looks competitive, where we see opportunity, and the five questions we’d put to your carrier. No cost, and no obligation to move anything.
The renewal letter
Your current plan summary
Contribution split by tier
Enrolled counts by tier
Four documents — two more if your group is 50 or more. Nothing else; every extra one is a reason to postpone.
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