NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is trying to help its members deal with remaining competitive when it comes to benefits through the ChamberBlue health insurance program.
"We're not in control of the cost of our health care and our health insurance plans, mostly because if you employ only a few people, your rates are based on your age," Teufel said. "As we all age up, that cost gets higher. The Chambers of Commerce Executives of Kansas decided to start exploring how do we put together an association health plan? Probably the number one comparison is like the Kansas Bankers Association. That's not an uncommon method, to bring together like kinds of businesses to form an association."
If the chambers that have shown interest get their members to use it, it could be a large group.
"We have at least 37 Chambers that have signed on to be part of the association health plan," Teufel said. "It will be administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. It's a company that everyone knows and trusts. It's going to give small businesses that employ two people or more to simply, by virtue of being a Chamber member, to fill out a survey this August. There's no cost to fill out the survey."
You'll just let them know how many people you might have to cover.
"You will receive a rate structure in September," Teufel said. "Then you can decide, does that rate structure benefit me, or do I want to stick with the same plan I have today. We think that it's going to be a large enough group, that because of the size of the group and spreading that risk, that it's going to lower the cost for everyone. It's going to make someone who employs two people have the same kind of rate structure as if you worked for a company that employs 200 people. There's really no limit to the size of company that can join the association plan, as long as you employ two payrolled employees."
You can fill out the information online at https://www.bcbsks.com/chamberblueks.