NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Debra Teufel with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce reminds those who expressed interest in Chamber Blue to finish the process to make sure they are covered for 2023.
"Those who filled out the survey in August are eligible to enroll now in Chamber Blue," Teufel said. "That deadline is coming up. They need to get with Blue Cross and actually express that they wish to enroll by November 18th."
This health insurance offering was a statewide effort.
"Our chamber was one of over fifty chambers around the state that are taking part in Chamber Blue," Teufel said. "The whole goal was really to make an affordable health care option available to small businesses that haven't had that ability to be part of a larger pool. This gives you options. It also, hopefully, will give some rate stability and an option to be rated differently than simply by your age and demographic."
It's not going to work for everyone, and the chambers realize that, but it is another avenue for workers.
"We have had many members who have said this has been beneficial to them," Teufel said. "We've had some members that say, you know, right now, we're going to stick with what we have, but next year, there's always the option to opt in. If any of our members or businesses out there didn't take the survey this year, that doesn't mean that they can't participate next year. There will be another opportunity."
Teufel is talking about a similar timeline to this year, where rates will come out late summer or early fall of 2023 and then businesses can choose to opt in for coverage to begin in January of 2024.
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