OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – The State Chamber of Oklahoma has launched ChamberCare, a self-funded healthcare option for small businesses throughout Oklahoma.
ChamberCare, which became a licensed health insurance provider in August, is administered by Allied and utilizes the Aetna Signature Administrators health insurance network. It is available to small businesses that have two to 50 employees.
The State Chamber held a launch party at The Clark, 16 NE 2nd St., in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Officials with several chambers of commerce were in attendance to celebrate the new small business medical plan option.
The Chamber created ChamberCare to provide small businesses a cost-saving health insurance plan that diverges from the rising cost of healthcare.
“The Chamber’s mission is to make Oklahoma the best place in the country to do business. Providing ChamberCare as an option for small businesses is a way to make that a reality,” said State Chamber President and CEO Chad Warmington.
Small business owners across Oklahoma need an affordable health insurance option that will benefit their employees, according to Warmington.
“By being able to provide affordable quality coverage for their employees, its a huge game changer for Oklahoma small businesses. And that’s what we’re here for,” Warmington said. “We’re here for to do whatever we can do to make Oklahoma the best state in the nation for businesses.”
Warmington has traveled across the state the past month, telling local chambers of commerce about ChamberCare and the coverage and advantages it offers.
In addition to the two-to-50 employee requirement, a business must be in good standing as members of a local chamber of commerce that is authorized to offer ChamberCare.
The State Chamber modeled ChamberCare after successful plans launched by other chambers in the past, according to Carla Schaeperkoetter, chief operating officer of The State Chamber.
The Chamber extensively researched whether there was a market in Oklahoma for a self-funded health care option oriented to small businesses, Schaeperkoetter said.
“We were able to run assessments to see if this would actually work in Oklahoma, if there’s enough actual employers who would take advantage of it, if it will actually be competitive in the market,” she said. “All of that came back positively. That allowed us to be able to move forward with developing this plan.”
Payments from individuals who sign up for the plan will go into a fund that will pay for the claims, according to Schaeperkoetter.
The following chambers have partnered with The State Chamber in offering ChamberCare to their business members:
- Altus Chamber of Commerce
- Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
- Cushing Chamber of Commerce
- Del City Chamber of Commerce
- Duncan Chamber of Commerce
- Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce
- Elk City Chamber of Commerce
- Guymon Chamber of Commerce
- Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
- Moore Chamber of Commerce
- Norman Chamber of Commerce
- Pryor Chamber of Commerce
The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce had a similar medical plan program several years ago, but the program became defunct after Obamacare became law, according to Sherry Jordan, president and CEO of the Edmond Chamber.
“It was a great retention tool and a great tool for small business owners, because small businesses have a really hard time getting affordable health care. And so, we were so excited to hear that The State Chamber was partnering to bring this back,” Jordan said. “And we really see this as a great recruitment and retention tool for our members and a great way for them to access affordable health care options.”
Several members of the Edmond Chamber have expressed interest in signing up for ChamberCare, according to Jordan.
The Edmond Chambe has 950 members, and 85 percent of those members are businesses with 50 employees or less. Several of those small businesses have expressed the need for an affordable health care plan, Jordan said.
“We have had a steady stream of questions since we haven’t been able to offer this program. We’ve had a steady stream of members who want to know when it was going to come back and if it would be an option and how they could sign up for it,” Jordan said. “So, we’ve been keeping a waiting list, and those people are eager to get started.”
Kelly Wolf, an account executive for Consoliplex, a healthcare management company that makes health care challenges simpler for small businesses, said businesses that sign up for ChamberCare will save 20-30 percent on their health insurance premiums.
The State Chamber is an ideal access point to connect local chambers and their members with a medical plan, Wolf said.
“Typically, state chambers have great relationships with their local chambers, and that’s really where the small business market is. So, they’re able to really reach those companies that have two to 50 employees. So being able to be a convener to those companies is very important,” Wolf said.
Small businesses can now submit applications for ChamberCare coverage.
Go to The State Chamber website to learn more about ChamberCare.
