Washington group health insurance companies can issue a group policy for at least 2 eligible employees with 1 contract covering the whole group. The group usually consists of the employees of a business but also may be the members of a professional organization or labor union.

Washington group health insurance plans offer advantages in addition to medical care. The employer contributions for group health insurance in Washington state are almost always tax deductible and group insurance also offers lower premiums than individual plans because the financial risk is distributed between all of the members.

Three key points that affect the premium of Washington group heath plans:

1. The preferred provider organization. Group health insurance of Washington usually requires that a policy holder's health care provider be a member of the plan’s designated PPO.

2. Policies with lower deductibles are more expensive. The deductible is the amount the employee pays before health insurance companies in Washington will pay for treatment.

3. Policies with a higher coverage limit will be more expensive. This is the maximum amount that Washington group medical insurance providers pay for a given treatment.

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

Use WA group health insurance companies that provide network-based health care

Network-based health care can offer a wide range of plans that may offer options for consumer-driven plans, employee assistance and federal employees' benefits.

I recommend: Choose Premera Blue Cross plans for group health insurance. Washington Blue Cross offers plans specifically designed for business with less than 200 employees.

Consider local agencies that provide WA group health insurance to small businesses

Local agencies will be familiar with the specific laws regarding health insurance in your area.

I recommend: Request a quote from Health Insurance of Washington by completing the online form. This company serves Seattle, Mercer Island, King County and Pierce County directly and the rest of Washington through affiliated agents.

Obtain Washington group medical insurance through a trade association

Membership in a professional organization is a cost-effective method of obtaining health insurance for a small business.

I recommend: Join the Washington Dentists' Insurance Agency if you are a dentist in Washington. Complete the request form for group insurance and include the required information on each of your employees. Another group that offers group health insurance in Washington state is the National Association of Socially Responsible Organizations. Call or email this group to find out more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Provide part-time employees a customized plan for group health insurance. Washington companies are usually best able to serve your employees with a less expensive plan that provides basic coverage for essential benefits and discounts on some services that are not covered outright. Flexible Spending Accounts are another method that a part-time employee can use to manage health care costs.
• •  Offer a consumer-driven group health insurance plan for employees who wish to be more engaged in their health care. This type of Washington group insurance usually offsets a low-cost, high-deductible plan with Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts that allow a member to manage expenditures more closely than with a traditional health care plan.