BOSTON – March 1, 2018 – The Massachusetts Health Connector for Business and the New England Business Association announced today a partnership that will make it easier for Massachusetts small businesses to access the affordable health insurance options created by Health Connector for Business.
The new partnership creates a statewide visibility and access partnership that will make it easy for New England Business Association members to access Health Connector for Business and provide health insurance to employees. The agreement is the first of its kind for Health Connector for Business, which unveiled a new online experience in November 2017 that created an easy-to-use platform offering savings to business owners and plan choice to employees.
“We are excited by this partnership with the New England Business Association, which will make it easier for thousands of small employers to access health insurance through Health Connector for Business,” said Massachusetts Health Connector Executive Director Louis Gutierrez. “Through the new platform, employers can quickly determine their costs and benefits for the year, while offering their employees the flexibility to pick their own plan from a range of health insurers for the first time ever in the Massachusetts small group market.”
“Small business owners are keenly aware of the costs associated with health care benefits and yet also understand how important this benefit is to attract new employees and to develop a culture of employee satisfaction,” said New England Business Association President and Chief
Executive Officer Karim Hill. “This partnership will dramatically change the way employers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can access health care and provide benefits to their employees in a cost-effective manner. It is a unique opportunity and we are excited to partner with the Massachusetts Health Connector for Business.”
Through the new partnership, the New England Business Association will highlight Health Connector for Business on its website and hold up to 15 informational seminars across the state, giving business owners a first-hand look at the platform and its benefits. Health Connector for Business will create a dedicated access point for New England Business Association members and offer direct support to businesses considering insurance options.
The new Health Connector for Business makes it quick and easy for small employers with 50 or fewer employees, brokers and employees to access affordable health care from seven commercial carriers. For small businesses, the platform provides decision-making tools that let owners set their costs on a monthly basis, while also potentially accessing Wellness Track – a health and wellness program that is easy for employees to use and delivers a 15 percent rebate to employers – and federal tax credits benefits to lower their premium payments, two ways to save money only available through Health Connector for Business. Brokers can use an easy quoting
tool to help guide businesses while easily managing a client’s account. Through the platform, employees can have the option of selecting from a range of plans, ensuring they are selecting the plan that best meets their needs.
The New England Business Association, formerly known as the Smaller Business Association of New England (SBANE), has embarked on an expanded mission to enhance the support, resources and networking it provides to its members. By way of strategic partnerships, New England Business Association is ushering in new initiatives such as an access to capital program, providing services and products via a preferred vendor program, expanded workforce training and development, and innovative business-to-business networking platforms.
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