Healthcare and Small Business
Under 50 employees
SHOP – Small Business Health Options Program
- Employers 1-50 FTE’s - ACA fast fact sheet for 1-50 and 50+ 
 
- Enroll through - Private insurance company 
- Registered agent/broker 
 
- Only way to qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit (SBHCTC) - This lowers premium costs 
 
- Credits Eligibility - Cover at least 50% of employee premium cost 
- Employ fewer than 25 FTE’s 
- Average annual wage less than $53k (in 2017) 
- Purchase plan through SHOP Marketplace 
 
- Requirements - Reporting to employees about marketplace (only certain employers) 
- Cannot have waiting period greater than 90 days 
- SBC (Summary of Benefits and Coverage) disclosure - What it is and what it costs 
 
- Additional reporting for being self-insured 
- MLR (Medical Loss Ratio) Rebates - Very strict rules here so DOCUMENT EVERY CALCULATION AND REASON 
- For fully-insured Medical plans with MLR below 80% (goes to 85% for large group) - Guarantees 80% profitability for insurance providers 
- No rebate if MLR is above 80%, in fact you’ll see premium increases 
 
- Who distributes this? The insurer. 
- Calculated on a 3-year look-back average 
 
 
 
                        