Small Businesses

There are many reasons you may provide health insurance to your employees. Businesses with 50 or more employees must offer health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. However, even if it is not required, offering health insurance can have many benefits such as:

• Tax benefits for you, including tax deductions and credits. Tax credits are only available through the NY State of Health Marketplace.
• Tax benefits for workers when they pay a portion of their insurance with pre-tax salary deductions
• Better employee retention and healthier workers

Download small business health insurance fact sheets:

Are you Interested in Offering Health Insurance to Your Employees?

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

How to Apply

Applying for health insurance is easier than ever, and small businesses have many options.

• NY State of Health Small Business Marketplace: If you have 100 or fewer than employees, you can offer employees a choice of plans through the NY State of Health Small Business Marketplace. The Small Business Marketplace is open all year round. Note that sole proprietors enroll through the NY State of Health Individual Marketplace. 
  Get help to apply.
• Directly with Plans: You can shop for and purchase health insurance outside of the NY State of Health Marketplace. Remember, tax credits are only available through the NY State of Health.
  Compare plans on the federal Plan Finder website.
• Private Exchanges: You can shop for and purchase health insurance on a private exchange. Some private exchanges charge additional fees.
  HealthPass New York
  NY Health Alliance
• Healthy NY: If you employ lower wage workers and haven't offered insurance in the last year, you may be able to get lower cost health insurance through Healthy NY.

Helpful Links

COVID-19 Updates and Resources
Access HRA
NY State of Health Small Business Marketplace
NYC Small Business Services
Healthcare.gov How the Affordable Care Act affects small businesses