What is group health insurance?
A group health insurance plan helps you and your employees pay for health care expenses. Businesses with 1 or more employees are eligible to purchase group health insurance. UnitedHealthcare offers options for businesses of all sizes.
View plans by business size
Why choose a group health plan?
Group health insurance plans are designed to be more cost-effective for businesses. Employee premiums are typically less expensive than those for an individual health plan. Premiums are paid with pretax dollars, which help employees pay less in annual taxes. Employers pay lower payroll taxes and can deduct their annual contributions when calculating income taxes.
How group health insurance works
Health insurance helps businesses pay for health care expenses for their employees. When you pay a premium, insurance companies pay a portion of your medical costs, including for regular doctor checkups or injuries and treatments for accidents and long-term illnesses. The amount and services that are covered vary by plan.
For example, an employee may have a $20 copay for each doctor visit. Or, their plan may not cover any expenses until they have paid their deductible. Generally, the higher an employee's monthly premium, the lower their deductible will be.
How group plans with higher or lower monthly premiums work
Higher premium plan
Typically, if you choose a plan with a higher monthly premium, you’ll pay a lower amount for your deductible when you get care.
Lower premium plan
If you prefer a plan with lower monthly premium, you’ll most likely pay a higher amount for your deductible when you get care.
What is the Affordable Care Act?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires business owners and employees to carry health care coverage that meets certain requirements. Qualifying health care plans include general medical coverage. Specialty plans that cover only dental care or vision care do not meet minimum requirements.
Does your business qualify for tax credits?
The ACA offers small businesses tax credits to help offset the costs of health insurance coverage for their employees.
Shop for a health plan
Get the information you need to shop for a group health plan — and see how much easier it can be to understand your options.
Get more help
If you want help with choosing a health plan, UnitedHealthcare has many options for you. You can choose to work with an insurance agent, who may represent a single health insurance company. Or you can work with a health insurance broker, who may represent several health insurance companies.