Cheryl Smith Gardner, executive director of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, which administers My Arkansas Insurance.
Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace will launch Arkansas SHOP, the small business health insurance options program state-based marketplace at 8 a.m. on Nov. 1.
The website is where the state’s small businesses can provide employees access to health insurance and enroll their employees in the plans. It will be offered under a My Arkansas Insurance brand.
The enrollment offers benefits through group plans effective Jan. 1 and is open year-round.
As part of the testing and trial phase of the website, one small business has already registered through the website.
Jim Miles, owner of Covenant Medical Benefits in Jonesboro, gave his 10 employees the opportunity to enroll and eight chose to do so. He said the process was quick, efficient and easy for the employees to use.
“More than 80 percent of small business employees identify health insurance as a priority and a valued benefit that influences their choice of where to work,” Miles said.
The website features a search tool that allows users to find brokers and agents in their area, a chat function, a calculator to allow small businesses to estimate their tax credits and more.
Cheryl Smith Gardner, executive director of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, said more than 100 agents and brokers from around the state have been trained to enroll clients on Nov. 1. My Arkansas Insurance hosted a series of regional training sessions for agents and brokers and meetings with small business leaders across the state to discuss enrollment opportunities for employers working with SHOP-certified agents and brokers.
“As a health insurance agent, it’s important to help my clients find the best coverage for their particular business situation,” said Bob Miller, a SHOP-certified health insurance broker in North Little Rock. “Arkansas SHOP offers resources to help me make solid health insurance recommendations and assist with a smooth and effective enrollment process.”
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