Local Help Across Northeastern Pennsylvania
If you run a small business in Northeastern Pennsylvania, anywhere from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre to the Poconos, you have no shortage of options when it comes to health coverage, and plenty of people ready to sell you a plan. A health insurance broker is a licensed professional who helps you compare those options, set up the one you choose, and stay available after your team enrolls.
We work with employers across the region by phone and in person, so you can talk through your choices in whichever way suits you. Our advisors are licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The sections below cover how we work with you, the counties we help, and what is different about buying coverage across this part of the state. If you are still deciding whether a broker is right for you, start with What Does an Employee Benefits Broker Do?
In one sentence
Local advisors, available by phone or in person, who help you choose a plan and stay with you after you enroll.
How We Work With You
Choose the way that suits your schedule. Either way, you are working with a real advisor who knows your business.
By phone
Talk it through from your desk. A phone call works well for questions about your plan, a new hire, a claim, or renewal, and it saves you a trip on a day that is already full.
In person
Some decisions are easier face to face, like choosing a plan for the first time or going over your options with your team. We can meet with you, walk through everything, and answer questions as they come up.
All year long
Enrollment is only the start. New hires, life changes, and renewal all come up later, and your advisor is there for each one.
Not sure where to begin? Schedule a call and we will start with your team and what you need.
Where We Help
People draw the lines of Northeastern Pennsylvania in different places. We use the seven counties served by the NEPA Alliance, the region's community and economic development agency, as our starting point.
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Seven Counties
Your business is nearby, but not on the list? Reach out anyway. We also help employers across the rest of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, so we can tell you quickly how we can help. Get a quote or call us to get started.
What Is Different Across the Region
Northeastern Pennsylvania is a wide area, and where your employees live can change the plans and prices they see. A few points are worth knowing before you compare options.
Plans and prices
Rating areas
Pennsylvania divides its individual and small group markets into rating areas, and the counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania do not all fall into the same one. Employees in different counties can see different plans and prices. For an ICHRA, employers can set different amounts for employees in different rating areas.
Marketplace
Pennie
Pennie is Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace, and it is where individuals and families shop for their own coverage. That matters if you are considering an ICHRA, because employees on an ICHRA choose individual plans.
Small employers
Pennsylvania's small group rules
Pennsylvania treats employers with up to 50 employees as small group. Small employers, generally those with 1 to 50 employees, may be able to enroll in SHOP plans through an insurance company or a SHOP-registered agent or broker.
Employee turnover
Continuation coverage
Employers with 2 to 19 employees fall under Pennsylvania's own continuation law, which lets covered employees keep group coverage for up to 9 months after certain events, such as leaving a job. Larger employers are generally covered by federal COBRA instead.
If some of your employees live in another state, the plans available to them depend on where they live, so bring it up early. These are general points, not advice for your situation. For more, see our guide to small business health insurance in Pennsylvania.
Common Questions About Health Insurance in Northeastern Pennsylvania
How do I find a health insurance broker in Northeastern Pennsylvania?
Look for a licensed professional who is licensed in Pennsylvania and can tell you which insurance companies they work with, who your day-to-day contact will be, and what support you can expect after your team enrolls. Our advisors are licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware and work with employers across Northeastern Pennsylvania by phone and in person.
Do you work with businesses in my county?
We start with the seven counties served by the NEPA Alliance: Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, and Wayne. If your business is nearby but not on that list, reach out anyway. We also help employers across the rest of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, so we can tell you quickly how we can help.
Can we work together by phone, or do we need to meet in person?
Either works. A phone call suits questions about your plan, a new hire, a claim, or renewal. Meeting in person can help with bigger decisions, like choosing a plan for the first time or going over your options with your team. You can mix the two, depending on what you are working on.
Do employees in different counties get the same plans and prices?
Not always. Pennsylvania divides its individual and small group markets into rating areas, and the counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania do not all fall into the same one. Employees in different counties can see different plans and prices. If you offer an ICHRA, employers can set different amounts for employees in different rating areas.
Where do my employees shop for individual coverage?
Pennie is Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace, and it is where individuals and families shop for their own coverage. That matters if you offer an ICHRA, because employees on an ICHRA must be enrolled in individual coverage to receive the reimbursement.
What counts as a small employer in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania defines the small group market as employers with at least one employee and up to 50 employees. Separately, employers with at least 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalents, are applicable large employers under federal law and face additional requirements. If your headcount is near either line, an advisor can confirm which rules apply to you.
What happens to coverage when an employee leaves?
Federal COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees. For employers that normally employ between 2 and 19 employees, Pennsylvania's own continuation law lets covered employees and their dependents keep group coverage for up to 9 months after certain events, such as leaving a job. The employee can be charged up to 105% of the group rate.
This FAQ is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Rules can change and every situation is different, so talk with a licensed advisor about yours.
Meet Our Small Group and ICHRA Advisors
Ready to Talk Coverage for Your Team?
Tell us about your business and what you are hoping to offer, and we will set up a time to talk by phone or in person.
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.
