Local businesses able to join chamber health insurance plan – Salina Post

By SALINA POST

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce today announced a new partnership that will allow employers to join together to purchase health insurance.

The Chamber Blue of Kansas association health plan is the result of a partnership of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, and the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas. Thirty other local chambers of commerce in Kansas are participating.

“The larger pool of people enrolled in the plan allows the possibilities for more plan options, and potentially, lower cost,” the Salina Chamber noted in a news release this afternoon.

“The Salina Chamber and all chambers involved in this partnership realize and recognize that recruiting and retaining talent is vital for business and industry of all sizes, especially small businesses. Having access to trusted health insurance benefits is a crucial piece to that success. According to SBA statistics, small businesses equate to over 99.1% of all businesses in Kansas,” the Salina Chamber continued.

To participate, local employers must have at least two employees and be current, dues-paying members of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

Those participating will receive the following, according to information from the Salina Chamber.

●A dedicated account management team with one-on-one support

●More choice in plan options

●Stability of rates with a larger pool of participants

●A uniform rate for the group based on average risk rather than rating each member individually

●Dental, life, disability and ancillary coverage offerings will be available to complete your benefit package

Three information sessions will be available on March 11 for interested business owners, non-profits, and organizations. Meeting times are as follows.

8-9 a.m.

Noon-1 p.m.

4-5 p.m.

The sessions will be in the Visit Salina Annex, 120 W. Ash Street.

“The partnership will continue to host information sessions and answer questions with the goal of all interested organizations completing an interest survey during August 2022. The initial rates will be determined in September 2022 based on groups/businesses that have completed the survey and plans will become effective Jan. 1, 2023,” the Salina Chamber noted.

For more information regarding the qualification criteria and more interested parties are asked to visit https://www.bcbsks.com/chamberblueks or contact the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce at 785-827-9301 or by email at [email protected].