Health Insurance for Your Small Business

Get your sunglasses out – because Arizona’s economic future is looking bright.

More than 700,000 new jobs will be created in Arizona by 2030, according to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. It may be a crucial time for employers to consider offering healthcare benefits to ensure worker wellness and to attract and retain talent in a competitive job market.

“I get at least one call a week where an employer says, ‘I need to offer health insurance to attract talent,’” said Natalie Daricek, who works on small business health insurance plans at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ). “Many prospective new hires are providing employers with the healthcare plans they currently have to match benefits.”

If you want to offer benefits to your employees, the BCBSAZ small business sales team is here to help. The team is like a family, having decades of experience working together to assist employers all over the state.

Our Small Business Sales Team Has 111 Years of Combined Experience at BCBSAZ:

• Kathryn Mattson, Director of Small Group Sales: 24 years
• Ivan Blackwell, Business Development Executive, Small Group Sales: 26 years
• Barbra Heintz, Business Development Executive, Small Group Sales: 28 years
• Natalie Daricek, Business Development Executive, Small Group Sales: 33 years

Q&A

We turned to our four experts to answer some of the most frequently asked questions they field from employers.

Q: What is considered a small business in Arizona?

Ivan: A small business consists of 2-50 employees in the state of Arizona.

Q: Why should small businesses offer health insurance to their employees?

Ivan: Small businesses should offer health insurance because Arizona's job market is very competitive. The more benefits you offer employees, the more likely they’ll stay with the company.

Q: What differentiates BCBSAZ from other insurers?

Natalie: What differentiates BCBSAZ from other carriers in the insurance space is that we’re a locally owned and operated, nonprofit insurance carrier – we believe that makes a world of difference. We care about the health and well-being of every Arizonan and are committed to helping employers find the best insurance plans that suit their needs.

Q: How is the local status of BCBSAZ beneficial?

Kathryn: As a local company, we know Arizona better than anyone because this is where we all live, work, and play. Our executive leadership, customer service, and sales team are based here. So, if we have a small employer that is having trouble understanding their health plan or if they need an open enrollment meeting, we can jump in our cars and be there in no time to meet with them face-to-face. As a local company, we have the unique opportunity to really listen and learn from business leaders and nonprofit organizations throughout the state about how our organization can make a difference for them.

Q: Will BCBSAZ help throughout the process?

Barbra: We’re here from the beginning to the end! Once the ID cards go out, BCBSAZ appoints a client service manager as a main point of contact for every company. This individual helps an employer to manage their insurance plan throughout the year. We believe communicating this way, with a human being you know versus someone out of state, in a different time zone, helps us to stand apart from the rest. We know how busy small business owners are, so we like to inspire health and make it easy for them to find affordable, innovative, and accessible healthcare solutions.

Q: What is the #1 question you get when it comes to small business benefits?

Natalie: A lot of employer groups ask, ‘do you offer vision and dental?’ The answer is yes! We not only offer vision and dental, but we also offer life insurance.

Q: What types of plans are there for small businesses?

Kathryn: We offer a variety of plans for small businesses. We have Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plans which include the 10 essential health benefits, and they are comprehensive medical insurance plans. We also have balanced funding plans which are built on a partially self-funded platform. These products work best for employers who have five or more enrolled employees and offer a culture of wellness. One benefit of having an offering like this is if your claims run better than expected, you could earn some of your premium dollars back at the end of the plan year. Lastly, we have association health plans designed for specific industries, like physicians, construction workers, auto workers, and manufacturers. It all comes down to what you are looking for. If you’re unsure, reach out to your local broker or call us at BCBSAZ at 1-844-422-2729.

Q: How much does health insurance cost small business owners?

Barbra: To determine the cost of offering health insurance to your employees, various factors come into play. For example, your location, employee demographics, and the size of your company. Demographics and size account for the employees who are going to enroll in the plan. Other factors that contribute to the insurance premium are the plans the employer chooses. Click here to get a personalized quote.

Q: How much customization can BCBSAZ offer small businesses?

Natalie: One way we customize plans for small employer groups is by offering anywhere between 4-7 different plans. You can always contact us to go over what plans work for your budget.

Q: What is your favorite thing about small group business?

Ivan: Arizona is a state full of entrepreneurs and mom-and-pop shops, which is one of the reasons I got into the small group business!

Watch the video below to learn more from our small business team!

Call the small business team with any questions Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arizona time: 1-844-422-2729