California Group Health Plan
Group Health Plans for California Businesses

Getting every employee in a business to agree upon ideal medical insurance coverage is next to impossible. Naturally everyone has individual needs and desires when it comes to health insurance. Some people have the sole desire of having low monthly premiums. Other people want great flexibility in their coverage. Still other folks want additional coverage such as vision and dental insurance. In some states there is little legal assistance to businesses when it comes to obtaining health insurance for employees, but getting a California group health plan may be just a little easier thanks to legislation protecting the rights of small businesses.

In California a small business cannot be denied medical coverage by a health insurance company solely based on their status as a small business. Insurers are also required by law to disclose every single coverage plan which the small business is eligible for. This means insurers are not allowed to hide desirable products in an attempt to dissuade the small business from seeking insurance. Because of this sort of legislation it isn’t nearly as difficult as it once was for a small business owner to find a suitable California group health plan.

There are a few different California group health plans available. Probably the most infamous of all California group health plans is the HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). This plan costs less than other plans but generally offers a lesser degree of flexibility and personal care. Patients must see a doctor within the HMO’s network of doctors, so this means that even if a person has been seeing the same doctor since the day they were born it doesn’t matter; if the doctor is not approved by the HMO then the insured person cannot utilize this doctor and expect the insurance company to pay for the visit.

Another California group health plan is the PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). This plan is far superior to an HMO plan in the sense that patients can choose to see whatever doctor they please and there are not as many restrictions on specialty care as with an HMO. The drawback of a PPO for many people, however, is the cost. Monthly premiums tend to be much higher for a PPO than with an HMO and for many Californians who are already stretched thin financially there is simply no way to purchase this sort of health coverage, even if the thought of greater flexibility is quite enticing.

For people who like the financial aspect of an HMO but the flexibility of a PPO there is another California group health plan called a POS (Point of Service). This plan takes into account the lower monthly premiums of an HMO but also integrates the flexibility of a PPO plan. Of course the monthly premiums for a POS plan will be a little higher than an HMO and the POS plan will not be able to match the flexibility of a PPO plan exactly. It is more like a happy medium, and many business owners who are seeking a quality California group health plan decide a POS plan is the best fit for their employees’ needs.