One independent broker. Every major California carrier. Zero fees. We compare Anthem, Blue Shield, Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and 6 more so you get the best plan at the true market rate.
Takes 3 minutes. We’ll deliver carrier comparisons the same business day — no cost, no obligation.
Takes 3 minutes · Same-day comparisons · No broker fee
Review your information below, then submit to receive your carrier comparisons.
Independent means we work for you, not any single carrier.
We hold carrier appointments with Anthem, Blue Shield, Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Health Net, Oscar, Sharp, Western Health Advantage, and more. You see real market pricing — not one insurer’s pitch.
Submit your census before noon and receive carrier rate indications the same business day. No weeks of waiting for a spreadsheet that’s already outdated before you open it.
As a CA DOI-licensed independent broker (Lic. #6013787), our legal obligation is to you. We’re compensated the same regardless of which carrier you choose — your interests come first.
From HMO vs PPO to ACA employer mandates, ERISA compliance, and county-by-county carrier availability — we publish the most comprehensive group health resource in California.
We don’t disappear after enrollment. Every renewal, we re-shop the market and advocate for rate stability. Most clients see better outcomes at renewal with an active broker than without.
Independent brokers are compensated by carriers via commission built into every carrier’s pricing. Using a broker costs you nothing — going direct to a carrier doesn’t save money and eliminates expert guidance.
From first inquiry to active coverage in as little as 2 weeks.
Complete the 3-minute application above with your employee count, ZIP code, desired plan type, and effective date. We use this to request rates from every applicable carrier in your market.
Same business day (for most groups), we deliver a clear side-by-side spreadsheet of all applicable carriers: premium, deductible, out-of-pocket max, network, and employer cost breakdown.
Choose your carrier and plan. We handle all enrollment paperwork, employee communications, payroll deduction setup, and ID card delivery. Coverage typically effective within 2 weeks.
Every industry has unique considerations. We know yours.
Attract engineers with competitive health benefits.
Coverage for clinics, practices, and health services.
Affordable plans for food & beverage businesses.
Plans covering field and office workers alike.
Premium benefit packages for law firms.
Flexible plans for full-time and part-time staff.
Workforce benefits for production operations.
Budget-conscious plans for mission-driven orgs.
Competitive benefits for finance and wealth management.
Health benefits for private schools and tutoring.
Plans covering seasonal and year-round farm workers.
We hold active appointments with all carriers below — you get the same quote a direct call would produce, plus independent analysis of each plan’s network and value.
Carrier availability, network adequacy, and premium rates vary significantly by county. We know every market.
The most comprehensive employer health insurance resource in California — fully cited and regularly updated.
The complete mechanism: premiums, employer contribution rules, enrollment, claims, and network adequacy.
A definitive comparison of California’s two most popular plan types — cost, flexibility, and fit by industry.
The employer shared responsibility provisions: who must offer coverage, what counts, and penalty calculations.
Everything a 2–50 employee California business needs to know about qualifying for and purchasing group coverage.
Current California market rates by plan type, county, and group size — with employer cost management strategies.
When level funding makes sense for California small groups — and how the refund mechanism works.
Answers to the most common employer questions about California group health insurance.
In California, you need at least one eligible W-2 employee other than the business owner or their spouse to qualify for a small group health plan. Under the Affordable Care Act, small group is defined as 1 – 100 employees. Sole proprietors with no W-2 employees must purchase individual coverage instead.
California carriers typically require: (1) at least 70% participation among eligible employees, and (2) employer contribution of at least 50% of the employee-only premium. We help structure your eligibility rules to meet these participation thresholds. Source: Covered California for Small Business, California Health Benefit Exchange eligibility rules.
Based on 2025 California small group market rates, employers can expect to pay approximately:
California law requires employers to contribute at least 50% of the employee-only premium. Most competitive employers contribute 75 – 100% for employee-only coverage. Rates vary significantly by ZIP code, employee age distribution, and plan design. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey 2024; California DOI market data.
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Members must choose a primary care physician who coordinates all care. Referrals required for specialists. No out-of-network coverage except emergencies. Lowest premiums. Best for cost-conscious employers in areas with strong HMO networks (LA, Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento).
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): No PCP requirement. Members can see any doctor, specialist, or out-of-network provider without referral. Out-of-network care is covered but at higher cost-share. Highest premiums. Best for employers whose employees value maximum flexibility or travel frequently.
EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization): No referrals required, but no out-of-network coverage except emergencies. A middle-ground on both cost and flexibility. Roughly 10 – 15% cheaper than a comparable PPO. Growing in popularity for California tech and professional services firms.
Yes, with some rules. California carriers permit employers to offer multiple plan options, and a defined-contribution strategy (employer contributes a fixed dollar amount toward any plan the employee selects) is fully permitted. You can offer plans across different tiers using a reference contribution model.
What’s not permitted: offering richer plans only to highly compensated employees or discriminating based on protected characteristics. However, you can define different contribution levels by legitimate employee classes (full-time vs. part-time, hourly vs. salaried) as long as the classes are applied consistently and do not discriminate on protected grounds. Source: IRS Section 105(h) nondiscrimination rules; ACA nondiscrimination provisions.
California does not have a state employer mandate for businesses with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees. The federal ACA employer shared responsibility provision requires applicable large employers (50+ FTEs) to offer minimum essential coverage that is affordable and meets minimum value, or face IRS penalties.
For small employers (under 50 FTEs), offering health insurance is voluntary — but California’s individual mandate means employees without employer-sponsored coverage face a state penalty of $900+ per adult per year. This makes employer-sponsored coverage a significant retention and recruiting tool even without a legal mandate. Source: IRS Publication 974; California Franchise Tax Board, Form 3853 instructions.
New businesses can establish a group plan and enroll employees at any time. Existing groups conduct annual open enrollment during the 30 – 60 days before their plan anniversary date. Outside open enrollment, employees may enroll only during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) triggered by a qualifying life event: marriage, birth/adoption, loss of other coverage, or moving out of a network’s service area.
New hires may generally enroll within 30 days of their hire date (or 60 days, depending on plan terms). Employers set the waiting period before new hire coverage becomes effective — California allows up to 90 days. Source: ACA Section 2708; California Insurance Code Section 10198.7.
Yes. Kaiser Permanente offers small group health plans (2 – 100 employees) throughout most of California through its Northern California and Southern California regional plans. Kaiser is available in all major California markets — LA, Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, and the Inland Empire.
Kaiser’s integrated model means members receive all care at Kaiser facilities from Kaiser-employed physicians. Premiums are typically 15 – 25% below comparable PPO plans. Employers in rural areas or with employees spread across multiple CA regions should verify Kaiser network adequacy for their employees’ ZIP codes. Source: Kaiser Permanente California group enrollment guidelines; NCQA Health Plan Accreditation data.
Get a side-by-side rate comparison for your group — same business day, no cost, no obligation.