Health Insurance Toolkit for Small Business Owners Now Available

by The Health Law Guide for Business Team

Resource provides valuable information for small business employers and employees 

By now you have probably seen the commercials on TV, heard something on the radio, or even read it in this blog—open enrollment for health insurance through Covered California is happening now through Feb. 15, 2015, so there is no better time to make sure you and your employees get covered.

While businesses that have fewer than 50 employees do not need to provide insurance to their employees through work, most Californians must be covered. Which means if you or your employees are not covered by the end of open enrollment, you will pay a penalty at tax time.

We know that running your own business means there’s seemingly endless demands on your time and resources. We also know that keeping yourself and your employees healthy can have a positive effect on company morale and your bottom line. So, to help small business owners and employees get the health insurance they need and deserve, the Health Law Guide for Business (HLGB) has created a toolkit of easy-to-use materials that can be shared with those who may have questions about their best available options for coverage.

The toolkit materials are available in English and Spanish and can be printed from the HLGB website. The English version can be found at http://www.healthlawguideforbusiness.org/toolkit and the Spanish version is at http://www.healthlawguideforbusiness.org/manual.

This toolkit includes:

• Fact sheets with information about what the Affordable Care Act means for small businesses.
• “Get Covered” information cards for business owners and for employees.
• A health coverage eligibility guide to determine the programs for which employers, their employees and family members are eligible.
• Tools to share with employees, including:
  • A poster to hang in break rooms or other places where employees gather;
  • An envelope-sized sheet with insurance information to include with employees’ paychecks; and
  • An on-board letter to share with new employees that provides information on how to contact Covered California, Medi-Cal or a certified insurance broker.

We hope that all California small business owners and their employees can use this information to get covered. If you have questions, make sure to contact a Covered California certified insurance broker who will be able to help you make a decision that is right for you and your business. In addition, the Health Law Guide for Business Team is available to print the toolkits and send them directly to you by filling out your request and information on the contact us page of their website http://www.healthlawguideforbusiness.org/contact-0.