Navigating Small Business Health Insurance Options in Nebraska

eHealth gave me the support I needed to pick the right plan and complete the application. My advice, stop researching and go to eHealth for help!.

As a small business owner in Nebraska, providing quality, affordable healthcare coverage for your employees is important yet can also be confusing. To make the most informed choices when shopping for a small business health plan, it’s key to understand your coverage options, costs, and the advantages of using Nebraska’s SHOP Marketplace. This guide explains everything Nebraska employers need to know about choosing the right health insurance to protect their workforce.

SHOP Marketplace Overview

The Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP Marketplace, is a service created by the Affordable Care Act to help small businesses provide group health plans. Here are some key facts about SHOP in Nebraska:

  • Available to employers with 1-50 full-time equivalent employees
  • Offers a variety of plan options from leading insurers
  • Provides access to tax credits that reduce premium costs
  • Allows employers to control coverage levels and costs they pay
  • Gives employees an online portal to compare and enroll in plans

Using SHOP offers many advantages over buying plans directly from insurers. You get easy plan comparisons, potential tax savings, and an organized enrollment process for your team.

Types of Small Business Health Plans

While SHOP covers the 1-50 employee group market, Nebraska employers have other options too:

  • Individual Policies – Self-employed or sole proprietors can buy ACA-compliant plans. No group enrollment process.
  • Group Association Plans – Membership organizations offer coverage to small business members. Limited enrollment periods.
  • Self-Insured Plans – Companies directly fund and manage claims and network access. Complex to administer.

For most small companies, SHOP provides the best combo of choice, convenience and potential tax savings. Associations and self-insured plans can make sense for niche cases but usually cost more.

Nebraska SHOP Health Plan Options

Nebraska’s SHOP Marketplace offers a range of plan choices from top insurers like UnitedHealthcare, Medica, Aetna, Cigna and more. You can offer employees different levels of coverage:

Metal Tier | Average Cost Sharing

small business health insurance nebraska

Find group health insurance in NE

eHealth gave me the support I needed to pick the right plan and complete the application. My advice, stop researching and go to eHealth for help!.

Does your small business qualify for Nebraska health tax credit?If you’re a small business owner in Nebraska , you may qualify for a tax credit that could cover some of the costs you pay for employees’ premiums. If you qualify, eHealth can help you obtain your tax credit and find a small business health insurance plan that works best for you and your employees.

You may be able to get a tax credit if you run a small business with 25 or fewer full-time employees and pay them an average of less than or equal to $50,000 a year. *This tax credit was made possible by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It helps small businesses and tax-exempt organizations pay less for their employees’ group health insurance.

When small businesses meet the requirements, the federal tax credit will reimburse them for up to 50% of the premiums they pay for health, vision, and dental insurance for their employees. Tax-exempt organizations may qualify for a tax credit of up to 35% of premium expenses.

*In some states, the tax credit only applies to Qualifying Health Plans (QHPs) bought through government exchanges. Other restrictions may apply.

Small businesses that have less than 10 full-time workers and pay an average of $25,000 a year may be able to get the full credit. As the number of full-time workers and wages go up, the credit amount goes down until it’s gone for companies with 25 or more full-time workers and average annual wages over $50,000.

Part of the rules for eligibility are based on the number of full-time employees, not the total number of employees. This means that companies with part-time workers may be eligible even if they have more than 25 full-time workers.

This article is for general information and is not tax, accounting, or legal advice. Please consult a tax, accounting, or legal advisor for advice on your specific situation.

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FAQ

How much is health insurance per month in Nebraska?

How much does health insurance cost in Nebraska?
Metal Level
Average Monthly Premium*
Silver
$620
Bronze
$878
Gold
$886

How much does health insurance cost for a small business per employee USA?

An average monthly premium of about $703 ($8,435 annually) for single coverage per covered worker in small firms. An average monthly premium of $1,997 ($23,968 annually) for family coverage per covered workers in small firms.

Can a small business write off health insurance?

Like larger companies, small businesses are typically able to deduct some of their health insurance-related expenses from their federal business taxes. Expenses that might qualify for these deductions may include: Monthly premiums. Contributions to an HSA.

Can I buy health insurance for my employees in Nebraska?

If you own a small business in Nebraska (50 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees – FTEs), you can purchase qualifying coverage for your employees through SHOP, the Small Business Health Option Program or through a private broker or insurance agent. However, you may qualify for tax credits worth up to 50% of your premium costs if you use SHOP.

How long is a small business covered in Nebraska?

You are not covered for fewer than three months during the calendar year If you own a small business in Nebraska (50 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees – FTEs), you can purchase qualifying coverage for your employees through SHOP, the Small Business Health Option Program or through a private broker or insurance agent.

What insurance options are available for small business owners in Nebraska?

Other insurance options for small business owners in Nebraska include: Business owners policy (BOP): A package policy that includes commercial liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and business interruption insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance: Typically required for any business that has employees.

Do small businesses need liability insurance in Nebraska?

There a numerous liability coverage options for small businesses in Nebraska. A commercial general liability (CGL) policy offers broad protection from lawsuits. It covers your legal costs, medical expenses and other damage for the injured party, and other expenses related to a liability claim against your business.

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