Local Help, Close to Home
If you run a small business in Greater Philadelphia, you have plenty of choices for health coverage and plenty of people ready to sell you one. A health insurance broker is a licensed professional who helps you sort through those choices, set up the plan you pick, and stay available afterward. Working with one close to home adds something more: someone who knows your area, who you can reach when a question comes up, and who understands how coverage works on both sides of the Delaware River.
Health & Benefits Partners is based in the suburbs near Philadelphia, and our advisors are licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The sections below explain what local help looks like, where we work, and how the rules differ between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you are still deciding whether to work with a broker at all, start with Do I Need a Broker for Small Business Health Insurance?
In one sentence
A local advisor knows your area, answers when you call, and stays with you after you enroll.
What a Local Advisor Gives You
Coverage is the same product no matter who sells it. The difference is in the help around it.
Someone who knows the area
Your advisor works with employers around Greater Philadelphia, so you are talking to someone who understands the region your business and your employees live in.
A real team you can reach
When you or an employee has a question, you reach a person who knows your account, not a call center. A local team can also meet with you when a conversation is easier in person.
Support that continues
Enrollment is only the start. New hires, claim questions, and renewal all come up later, and your advisor is there for each one.
Not sure what a broker does from start to finish? Read What Does an Employee Benefits Broker Do?
Businesses We Help Around Greater Philadelphia
Our advisors work with many kinds of small businesses. These are some of the teams we serve, and each one has its own guide.
Law Firms and Legal Practices
Benefits for firms with partners, associates, and staff, each with different needs.
Learn moreMedical and Dental Practices
Coverage and enrollment help that works around clinic hours and provider schedules.
Learn moreHVAC and Field Service Companies
Benefits for teams that split their time between the field and the office.
Learn moreVery Small Businesses
Options and guidance for teams with fewer than 10 employees.
Learn moreOwners Without an HR Team
Coverage and enrollment support for businesses that do not have an HR department.
Learn moreWe help employers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, so if your business or your employees are across a state line, we can help there too. Looking for help in another part of Pennsylvania? See how we work with employers across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Rules Change at the State Line
If your business sits near a state line, or your employees live in a different state than the one they work in, the rules that apply to you can change. Each state has its own continuation law for group coverage and its own way to shop for health insurance. A local advisor sorts out which of these apply to your team and walks you through them.
Pennsylvania
Continuation coverage
Pennsylvania has its own mini-COBRA law, 40 P.S. § 764j, that lets employees continue group coverage after certain events.
Marketplace
Pennie, Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace.
New Jersey
Continuation coverage
New Jersey has a state group continuation law, similar to federal COBRA, that generally applies to employers with fewer than 51 employees.
Marketplace
Get Covered NJ, New Jersey's official health insurance marketplace.
Delaware
Continuation coverage
Delaware has a mini-COBRA law for small employer group policies, 18 Del. C. § 3571F, which caps the premium at 102% of the group rate.
Marketplace
Delaware uses the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov.
Federal rules apply in every state. For example, employers with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalents, face additional ACA requirements. The details depend on your plan and your team size, so this is a general overview, not a substitute for advice on your situation.
Common Questions About Working With a Local Broker
What does a health insurance broker do for a business in Greater Philadelphia?
A broker is a licensed professional who helps you compare coverage options, set up the plan you choose, enroll your employees, and answer questions afterward. A local advisor adds familiarity with the region your business and employees live in, along with someone you can meet or call when something comes up.
Do I need a broker who is based near Philadelphia?
No, it is not a requirement. What matters most is that the advisor is licensed in the state where your business operates. Many owners prefer someone nearby because it makes meetings and follow-up easier, and because a local advisor understands the area your team lives in.
Can you help businesses in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey?
Yes. Our advisors are licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, so we can work with businesses on either side of the Delaware River. Each state has its own rules for things like continuation coverage and marketplaces, and your advisor keeps track of which ones apply to your team.
What if some of my employees live in a different state than the one we work in?
It can affect which plans are available and how coverage works for each person, and the answer depends on how your plan is set up. Bring it up early in your first conversation with an advisor, along with where your employees live, so it can be part of the plan from the start.
Where do small businesses in this area shop for coverage on their own?
Employers can shop directly with insurance companies, look at a SHOP marketplace where one is available, or work with an advisor who can compare options in one conversation. Pennie in Pennsylvania and Get Covered NJ in New Jersey are the official marketplaces where individuals and families buy their own coverage, which matters if you are considering an ICHRA.
What should I bring to a first conversation with an advisor?
It helps to know how many employees you have, where they live, what coverage you have today and when it renews, and what you like or dislike about it. If you have a budget in mind, share it. You do not need everything in order. An advisor can work with what you have and help you fill in the rest.
Do you work with businesses outside Greater Philadelphia?
Yes. We help employers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. If your business is somewhere else, contact us and we can confirm whether we can help.
This FAQ is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Every situation is different, so talk with a licensed advisor about yours.
Meet Our Small Group and ICHRA Advisors
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Disclosures
We are compensated by the insurance carriers for policies you choose through us. There is no direct cost to you. Compensation may vary by carrier and product. Information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. Please consult your professional advisors about your specific situation. We are licensed to advise clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Contact us to confirm availability in other states.
