Ohio Granted Early Access to Fed SHOP

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will give benefit advisers and small employers in five states early access to the federally-facilitated Small Business Health Options Program, but benefit brokers say few employers are interested — so far.

Small employers, agents and brokers in Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Missouri will have access to SHOP in late October. Although enrollment in the states will still not start until the official Nov. 15 enrollment kick-off, small employers in the states will be able to use HealthCare.gov to do such things as establish a profile, assign an agent or broker to their account, complete an employer eligibility application, and browse plans and pricing when they become available. - HIX 9/10/2014

Mosaic Benefits will be able to assist you through the SHOP enrollment should you choose this direction.  This will be a wait and see process.  Our expectations are very low considering this is the first year for the program (delayed in open enrollment 2013).  There’s still a lot of fear among brokers and employers regarding SHOP.  If it is anything like the inaugural enrollment for the Individual Marketplace, you can expect a disaster.  No billing process has been announced and affordability is still a question as we do not know the 2015 rates.  "Rates for pre-Obamacare plans have been significantly lower than the exchange plans," in most cases. However, the idea of employees of having the option to choose their carrier, premium, and plan benefits while maintaining the qualifications of a group plan is attractive to both the employer and employee.

**Open Enrollment for Individual and SHOP plans effective 1/1/2015 begins this November 15^{th .}  In addition to SHOP, Mosaic Employee Benefits will also have the capability and software to assist any of your lower income employees (and families) in the need of a premium subsidy / tax credit on their individual health insurance premiums.  If you do not offer insurance to your employees, we can certainly consider scheduling a “Health Insurance Day” at your office during the open enrollment period.  We will have a Licensed Broker on site to review each employee’s current status, run quotes, and enroll new individual plans. 

Any questions or concerns regarding your plan or thoughts for offering a plan in 2015 please do not hesitate to call 614.431.4302.