A Virginia group insurance company will require a group to consist of at least 2 full-time members. The group may consist of employees in a business or members of a professional trade organization or labor union. A single master contract can usually be written to cover the entire group.

Virginia group medical insurance provides small businesses with other advantages besides medical care for employees. It also offers tax benefits because employer contributions are tax deductible. Virginia group insurance plans usually have lower premiums and greater coverage because the financial risk is distributed between all of the members.

There are three factors to consider when evaluating Virginia group health plans:

1. There must be enough members of the Virginia group medical insurance plan's provider network in your area to cover the medical requirements of your group.

2. The deductible must be appropriate to the general health of your employees. Virginia group health insurance plans that have a deductible that is too low can be just as costly as those that are too high.

3. Carefully determine the coverage limit a Virginia group insurance policy will allow based on your employees' overall health.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact a specific VA group health insurance broker

A broker is usually authorized to sell group health insurance from multiple carriers and will have experience in selecting the best plan for your business.

I recommend: Complete the group benefits form with Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance. This company represents most of the major providers of group health insurance in Virginia.

Get VA group health insurance from a full service insurance agency

Health insurance companies also may provide other financial services such as investments and employee benefits. Many business owners find it convenient to purchase all of the insurance for their business through the same agency.

I recommend: Go to Lewis Insurance Associates and complete the quote request form for group health insurance. Include all of the required information for each employee in your business. You will need to submit an additional form if you have more than ten employees.

Apply for enrollment with a larger carrier of group health insurance in Virginia

Large carriers of Virginia healthcare insurance frequently have a greater variety of plans, allowing for greater flexibility for small businesses of any size.

I recommend: Complete the group form at IFS Health to get a quote for Anthem health insurance plans. Anthem is one of the largest insurers in Virginia and has many group plans.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consumer-driven Virginia group health plans commonly offset a high-deductible, low-cost plan with Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts. These accounts allow employees to be more engaged in their health care than would normally be possible with a traditional health care plan because expenditures can be monitored more closely.