Needing affordable health insurance for your small business? The Chamber Benefit Plan is here to help.
Maintaining health insurance at a reasonable price for their family and employees has always been a challenge for small businesses.
The Chamber Benefit Plan provides reasonable health insurance through a self-funded trust established by the Missouri State Chamber and maintained for the purpose of offering group insurance. Many of our current members have seen significant savings in the employee healthcare plans by utilizing the Chamber Benefit Plan. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Missouri Chamber Federation has teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri to provide a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA). MEWAs enable smaller employers to join together to share in the overall claims risk. By being part of a larger, self-funded pool, employers have financial protection backed by Anthem’s stop-loss coverage.


Benefits
- Over 27,000 + participants throughout the state
- Administered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Competitive, medically underwritten rates
- Fixed, predictable monthly payments
- A variety of plan designs, including 10 PPO and three HSA options
- It is available to small businesses that meet two simple criteria:
1. Are members of a qualifying Chamber of Commerce
2. Have 2-50 eligible employees
To qualify for the plan, you must have between 2- 50 employees. If a spouse is part of the business, in most cases, they count as an employee. The Farmington Regional Chamber receives no compensation for members joining the plan. However, you must also be a member in good standing to qualify. If you are interested in exploring this cost-saving program, contact one of the Certified Brokers listed below for a quote. Each business’s quote will vary depending on the number of employees and their health status. The cost of the premium will remain the same regardless of which broker you contact. You do not have to wait for open enrollment to switch to the Chamber Benefit Plan. I am posting the Employer’s Frequently Asked Questions below.
Certified Brokers
Sonus Insurance- Brad Kocher
212 B West Columbia Street
Farmington, MO 63640
(573)747-4838
First State Insurance Agency
204 E. Liberty
Farmington, MO
(573)756-6741
Coalter Insurance Group
1001 Independence Street
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
(573)270-6047
Jent Insurance
120 N. Washington Street
Farmington, MO 63640
(573)880-4860
Custom Insurance Services
(573) 218-0434 • Farmington
(573) 438-4114 • Potosi
(636) 931-1200 • Crystal City
Chamber Members have access to a full range of high-quality plans and options that can lead to significant savings.
Not a member of our chamber yet?
Employer’s FAQ’s
The Chamber Benefit Plan is a self-funded trust that is established or maintained for the purpose of offering group insurance. It is governed by trustees and bylaws that satisfy the Missouri Department of Insurance requirements.
There is a board of trustees that oversees the plan and ensures that it complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
Because it’s a self-funded solution with the following advantages:
- Competitive rates
- Angle-Right Rating methodology similar to pre-ACA rating (avoiding community rating and lowering premiums)
- Predictable, fixed monthly payments Angle-Right
- Flexibility in choice of benefit plans Angle-Right
- Protection, as part of a larger, self-funded pool backed by Anthem Angle-Right
- Anthem’s broad networks: Blue Access, Blue Access Choice and Blue Preferred
You need at least two eligible employees enrolled in your medical plan, but no more than 50. Your business must be domiciled in Missouri and you must be in good standing with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce or your local participating chamber that satisfies the Missouri Department of Insurance requirements.
Yes. The participation requirement is 75% of the net eligible. The program also requires employer contribution of at least 50% of the employee rate, and 25% of the total premium equivalent.
Yes; however, all participating employers in Chamber Benefit Plans renew on June 1. Depending on your effective date, you may have longer or shorter than 12 months to renewal.
There are multiple factors that impact your premium equivalent rate, including:
- Medical history and expected risk of your employees’ future health claims Angle-Right
- Age and gender of your employees
- The number of employees enrolled in the benefit plan
- Where your company is located Angle-Right
- What benefits are being offered
Your premium equivalent rate covers expected claims, administrative expenses, taxes and assessments, and stop loss premiums. In addition, chamber membership dues and product dues are separate and are paid directly to your local chamber of commerce and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
An overall renewal increase will be calculated based on a projection of the claims for the upcoming policy year for the entire plan. Each participating employer’s increase will then be calculated based on that employer’s risk profile including claims history, changes in demographics and number of enrolled employees from the group.
During the policy period, you may only withdraw from the Chamber Benefit Plan at the end of a calendar month by giving written notice at least 60 days prior to that date. At renewal time, you must give written notice at least 30 days in advance.
The Chamber Benefit Plan uses Anthem’s Blue Access, Blue Access Choice and Blue Preferred networks. If your employees are using Anthem network doctors, there’s a good chance they can keep them. (It’s a good idea to remind your employees to make sure a doctor is in the network before getting care or services from them. They can do this by using the Find a Doctor tool on anthem.com.)
Absolutely! If you participate in the Chamber Benefit Plan, you’re eligible for discounted dental, vision, life and disability. These are fully insured plans that you would get directly from Anthem, specifically offered to Chamber Benefit Plan employers.