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Home / Lines of Authority / Small Group
Line IV — Small Group

Small group benefits, for 2–99 employees.

Small group coverage lets employers offer health and ancillary benefits to their teams. It's a relationship market where funding choice and plan design drive the sale.

Overview

What small group coverage is

Small group benefits are employer-sponsored plans for businesses generally sized 2–99 employees. The employer chooses the plan design and how much to contribute, and eligible employees enroll. Two funding models dominate: fully insured, where the carrier takes on all claims risk for a fixed premium, and level-funded, a hybrid where the employer pays a steady monthly amount but can share in savings if claims run low — often attractive to healthier small groups.

Beyond medical, most groups layer in ancillary lines — dental, vision, group life, and disability — and voluntary (worksite) benefits employees can elect and pay for themselves. Carriers set participation and employer-contribution requirements, and each group renews annually based on its census and experience.

Coverage Types

The employer-benefits product shelf

Fully insured medical

The carrier assumes all claims risk for a fixed monthly premium — predictable and simple for the employer.

Level-funded plans

A hybrid model with steady monthly payments and potential year-end refunds if claims run low; popular with healthier groups.

Group dental & vision

Core ancillary lines that round out a benefits package at modest cost.

Group life & disability

Employer-paid basic life and short/long-term disability protection for employees.

Voluntary / worksite

Accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity employees elect and fund themselves.

ICHRA & defined contribution

Arrangements that let employers fund individual coverage instead of a group plan.

Who It's For

Common client profiles

Small business owners

Employers offering benefits to attract and retain staff.

Healthy small groups

Teams that may save with level-funded designs.

Startups & scaling teams

Growing companies adding benefits for the first time.

Nonprofits & practices

Small organizations needing simple, affordable packages.

Multi-line prospects

Groups adding dental, vision, life, and disability together.

Renewal shoppers

Employers reviewing cost and design at their annual renewal.

Key Terms

Terms worth knowing

Fully insured
The carrier takes all claims risk for a fixed premium — no year-end settlement.
Level-funded
A hybrid of fixed monthly payments with potential refunds when claims are low.
Participation requirement
The minimum share of eligible employees who must enroll for a plan to be issued.
Employer contribution
The portion of premium the employer agrees to pay toward employee coverage.
Census
The roster of employees and key data used to quote a group.
Ancillary
Non-medical lines such as dental, vision, life, and disability.
Voluntary benefits
Employee-elected, employee-paid worksite products.
Renewal
The annual re-rating of a group based on its experience and census.
Common Questions

Small Group FAQ

How many employees are needed?
Small group generally means 2–99 eligible employees; exact rules vary by state and carrier.
Level-funded vs fully insured?
Fully insured is fixed and simple; level-funded offers steady payments plus potential refunds for healthier groups that run low claims.
What ancillary lines are common?
Dental, vision, group life, and disability, plus voluntary accident and critical-illness benefits.
When can a group start?
Groups can typically start any month, subject to participation and contribution requirements and the carrier's effective-date rules.

Write small group with one appointment

Unity First Nation contracts you across the carriers behind these products — with quoting, compliance, and back-office support.

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