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Maine
State Chamber Purchasing Alliance
offers insurance for small business
Alliance gives businesses more options
The
Maine State Chamber Purchasing Alliance, Inc. is offering* small
businesses with 2-50 employees, as well as self-employed
people, who are members
of a local or regional chamber of commerce a suite of five
health plans called Chamber BlueOptions. Included are three PPO
(preferred provider organization) plans with different deductibles and
coinsurance levels, an HMO and a Health Savings Account plan.
“This
is the first time that a small business can offer its employees five
choices of health insurance coverage at one time,” Dana Connors,
Maine State Chamber President. “Our health insurance Purchasing Alliance
will provide new and unique products to the small business marketplace,
expanding health care coverage to more Mainers.”
Typically,
a small business owner will offer employees one - or at the most two –
options and at least 75% of eligible employees must participate to
qualify for group coverage. The Chamber BlueOptions product will offer
five insurance plans for each employee to choose from with only 60%
of eligible employees being required for group coverage.
In
addition, Purchasing Alliance employers can qualify for a 2% discount on
annual premiums if they undertake certain wellness activities. “As far
as we know, this is the first time that an insurance product will reward
employers for taking wellness seriously,” said Connors. The 2%
discount would become available at employers’ annual renewal in 2008
for groups of 25-50 employees.
Businesses
can obtain a quote by contacting Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield at 1-800-541-4251
or by clicking on the "Find a
Producer" icon to find an Anthem appointed producer
in your area. *Chamber
BlueOptions is available to chamber members effective January 1, 2007 |
