Benefits that help you hire and keep good people
Most small business owners don't have an HR department to shop plans or fight a bad renewal. That's our job.
Dobson Health Insurance Group helps employers find small business health insurance that fits their budget and their team. We compare carriers and funding options side by side. Then we stay on to manage the plan with you every year after.
Same price, more help
Our commission is paid by the carrier and built into the rate. You pay the same premium with us or without us.
Does my small business have to offer health insurance?
Only if you have 50 or more full time equivalent employees. Below that, there's no federal requirement at all.
A full time employee is anyone averaging 30 hours a week. Part time hours get added together into full time equivalents, so count those before you assume you're under 50.
At 50 or more, you either offer affordable coverage that meets minimum value or you may owe a penalty.
2027 penalty if you offer no coverage
2027 penalty if your coverage is unaffordable
Your options for group health coverage
Traditional group insurance isn't the only choice anymore. Here are the options we compare for most small employers.
Traditional group health insurance
You choose one or more plans from a carrier and pay part of each employee's premium. The carrier takes on all the claims risk, and your premium is fixed for the year. Small group premiums can't be based on your employees' health history.
Level funded plans
You pay a steady monthly amount that covers expected claims plus protection against large ones. If claims come in lower than expected, you may get part of the difference back. These plans consider your group's health during underwriting, so they don't fit every business.
ICHRA
An Individual Coverage HRA gives each employee a set monthly allowance, free of income tax, to buy their own individual plan. You control your budget to the dollar and can set different amounts for different classes of employees.
QSEHRA
Works like an ICHRA but is built for employers with fewer than 50 employees who don't offer a group plan. The IRS sets a yearly limit on the allowance. It's simpler to run, with less room to vary amounts between employees.
SHOP
The Small Business Health Options Program lets small employers buy group coverage through the Marketplace. It's the only way to qualify for the small business tax credit.
Not sure which fits?
We'll quote the options that make sense for your team side by side.
Compare My OptionsMany carriers ask that at least 70% of eligible employees enroll in a traditional group plan and that you pay at least half of each employee's premium.
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
If you have fewer than 25 full time equivalent employees, you may qualify for a tax credit worth up to 50% of what you pay toward premiums. The credit is available for two years in a row.
To qualify, you need to
- Have fewer than 25 full time equivalent employees
- Pay average annual wages under about $69,000
- Cover at least half of each employee's premium
- Buy coverage through SHOP
What if not enough employees want the plan?
This trips up a lot of small businesses. If you can't meet a carrier's participation or contribution requirement, federal rules still require carriers to sell you a group plan during one window each year.
Outside that window, you can start a group plan any month of the year as long as you meet the carrier's requirements.
Carriers must sell you a group plan even if you miss their participation rules
How much does small business health insurance cost?
Across all employers in 2025, here is what a year of coverage averaged. Employers paid most of it.
Workers paid an average of $1,440
Workers paid an average of $6,850
Your cost will depend on your employees' ages, your location, the plans you offer, and how much you contribute. The fastest way to know is a quote built on your actual census.
Add dental, vision, and life insurance
Health insurance gets the attention, but dental, vision, and group life are some of the most appreciated benefits you can offer. They're also inexpensive to add.
Many employers offer them as voluntary benefits, where employees pay the premium and you pay little or nothing.
Dental and vision
Low cost and used by almost everyone.
Group life
Peace of mind your team will notice.
What we do for your business
We handle the benefits work so you can run your company.
Quote and compare
We quote multiple carriers and funding types side by side, then help you set a contribution strategy that fits your budget.
Run open enrollment
We run enrollment for your team, including employee meetings.
Support your employees
We answer employee questions about claims and coverage all year.
Manage renewals
We shop and negotiate every renewal before you sign it.
Frequently asked questions
How many employees do I need for group health insurance?
In most states, you need at least one enrolled employee who isn't the owner or the owner's spouse. Carriers set their own participation rules on top of that.
Can I offer coverage only to full time employees?
Yes. You can set eligibility rules, like covering only employees who work 30 or more hours a week. Those rules have to apply the same way to everyone in that group.
When can my business start a group health plan?
Any month of the year. Group plans aren't tied to the individual open enrollment period. Your plan year simply starts on the date you pick.
What's the difference between an ICHRA and a group plan?
With a group plan, you choose the plans and share the premium. With an ICHRA, you set a monthly allowance and each employee picks their own individual plan. An ICHRA gives you a fixed, predictable cost. A group plan gives your team one shared plan and network.
Does it cost more to use a broker for group insurance?
No. The premium is the same whether you work with a broker or go directly to the carrier. The difference is having someone in your corner at renewal time.
Ready to see what coverage would cost for your team?
Call Dobson Health Insurance Group or request a free group quote. Send us a simple employee list and we'll do the rest.
Last reviewed November 6, 2026. Penalty amounts apply to 2027. Cost averages come from the KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey.
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