State Chamber launches ChamberCare for small businesses

OKLAHOMA CITY Small businesses in Oklahoma now have a new option for health insurance coverage, following the rollout of a new State Chamber initiative.

ChamberCare is a self-funded health care option administered by Allied through the Aetna Signature Administrators network.

According to a release, it’s exclusively available to small employers who have a minimum of two individuals enrolled in their medical plan and a maximum of 50.

State Chamber CEO Chad Warmington said the organization has had healthcare plans in the past, the first of which was highly successful, but the American Care Act and subsequent changes to its framework by the Trump administration impacted the plan’s competitiveness. Warmington said they were somewhat reluctant to roll out another health care plan, but the reality is, it’s clear their members needed it.

Some State Chamber leaders across the country are already using a multiple employer welfare arrangement, and Warmington said plans like these give quality health care options to small businesses. A MEWA means a group of employers can pool resources to provide an insurance plan to their employees.

After about four years of planning, the plan was officially announced earlier this month.

By working with in-state brokers and partnering with local Oklahoma chambers to distribute the plan, State Chamber leadership expects ChamberCare to boost the overall state business environment.

“We're hopeful it'll really help empower local chambers to help businesses in their community, and it’s got that win-win of helping local chambers help us to help their businesses,” Warmington said. “It all really works out well. And again, if someone's interested in it, they can contact their local chamber and say, ‘hey, I'm interested in that program,’ and it allows their local chamber to be a part of helping them find a good alternative.”

According to the State Chamber website, ChamberCare has PPO and HSA options as well as CirrusMD Virtual Care.

“There's multiple plan designs, and it really gives them the ability to be a part of something that's competitive, because it's medically underwritten, and it's going to save them money,” Warmington said. “And that's the goal, is to provide that for small businesses all over the state.”

Dental and vision care is not yet available, but it’s likely coming, Warmington said.

“We think we'll eventually have some plans that we can bolt on, but right now, it's just on the medical side,” Warmington said.

Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce leadership was enthused to hear about the program. Nancy Runge, president of the Pauls Valley Chamber, said that area has many small businesses with fewer than five employees, and ChamberCare presents a viable option to them for health care.

“They haven't been able to afford coverage, or they have whatever is the best insurance available,” Runge said in a statement. “So, I think this will give them some good options. This will help with our current members and hopefully help us recruit new members.”

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