

2021 HEALTH INSURANCE RATES AND INFORMATION FOR NY SMALL EMPLOYERS
FREE HR Hotline
FREE Web based portal
Included when you work with us
FREE Employee Handbook Template
FREE Employee Human Resource Portal
NY SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH PLANS
Click on a plan to read more!
Oxford is considered the premier provider of New York small business insurance plans. Great service and a superior doctor network has made Oxford the choice for health insurance for ¾ of NY employers. Oxford offers three great networks - Freedom, Liberty and Metro. (Oxford is now aka United Healthcare)
To search the MD network click link - Oxford Doctor Search
See Q1 2022 Rates of Oxford New York Small Group
See Q2 2022 Rates of Oxford New York Small Group
See Q3 2022 Rates of Oxford New York Small Group
See Q4 2022 Rates of Oxford New York Small Group
The Freedom plan is the largest MD network in NY. The Liberty network is more affordable and offers a cost saving insurance alternative. The Metro network is smaller and much lower cost. The Freedom and Liberty networks provide your employees national coverage through United Healthcare’s Choice Plus Network. Oxford provides health insurance options throughout the state, including in Downstate New York, the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, and the mid-to-upstate regions through Ulster and Sullivan county. Oxford has new participation requirements for Non-HMO plans. The rule states that 60% of the employees must participate after valid waivers. Liberty HMO plans will continue to have no participation requirements.
You can mix and match some Oxford plans to accommodate highly compensated employees with a buy-up option while still offering an affordable plan to the rank and file. If you think Oxford Health Insurance plans are right for your small business, we are happy to talk about the benefits and costs for your business.
EPO, PPO, HMO and HSA plans are available.


Aetna Health runs a close 2nd to Oxford in quality service and network size. Aetna Health insurance plans are available throughout all counties of New York State. Just as Oxford - Aetna requires 60% enrollment of full- time employees after valid waivers.
To search the MD network click link - Aetna Doctor Search
For 2021 - Aetna Saving Plus plans. These plans will have reduced rates and compete directly with the Oxford Metro plan.
Aetna’s Savings Plus Plans are a great choice for new ventures or businesses wishing to provide benefits for the first time. If you are new small business owner seeking guidance for your small business health insurance options, we can tell you more about the health insurance costs and benefits that Aetna Health Insurance provides.
Employees are eligible to use the Aetna national network (special rules apply)
NEW plans for 2021 include the traditional national EPO and PPO network. This is again the largest network of providers in NY State. Empire will also have plans with the more limited Blue Access network. Empire will be available for businesses located in Queens, Kings (Brooklyn), New York (manhattan), Richmond (Staten Island), the Bronx, Nasssau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, and Orange counties of New York State. All plans can be used nationally. All plans do not require referrals. Our licensed insurance consultant can guide you through the benefits, prices and structure of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.
To search the MD network click link - Empire Doctor Search


Are you looking for an affordable health insurance plan for your small business? Emblem HMO plans are among the lowest cost plans available in New York City. Emblem Prime plans are available in Queens, Nassau, Richmond, New York, Kings, the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland Counties.
EmblemHealth Prime plans utilize the Tristate Network. Emblem Prime in New York, ConnectiCare for Connecticut and Qualcare in New Jersey. EmblemHealth Select Care and Millennium Networks are for the area encompassing New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
EmblemHealth continues to offer small business HMO plans with no participation requirements.
EmblemHealth is a great way for employers to save money and still provide a strong benefit plan. If you are looking to offer your employees a strong benefits plan at an affordable rate for your company, ask us about EmblemHealth. Effective August 1, 2020 Emblem POS plans now include national coverage using the FirstHealth Network.
See Emblem Group Rates 1st Q 2022
To search the MD network click link - EmblemHealth Doctor Search - https://www.emblemhealth.com/Find-a-Doctor
OSCAR was created to give you: Health Plans that are easy to understand and health care that actually feels good to use. OSCAR plans are simple – Copays for routine care so you get access to doctors on day one. Great doctors with real availability (Virtual Visits you can do from home). Oscar uses the LI Health Network Hospital system, Mount Sinai Hospital system and Montefiore hospital. Plus, OSCAR offers rewards for walking with Step Tracking on the OSCAR app. OSCAR provides World-class care: Great hospitals, great doctors.
You don’t need a referral to the specialist you want. You can talk to a Doctor from anywhere and get prescriptions sent to your pharmacy. Free and available 24/7 on the OSCAR app. Oscar is part of the Healthpass Private Exchange.


HealthPass is a private insurance exchange, offering members and businesses in the New York Metropolitan area EPO, HMO and POS plan solutions for their healthcare needs. Carriers available are Oxford, EmblemHealth, OSCAR and HealthFirst.
A well-rounded menu of options is offered through Oxford, Emblem, Oscar or HealthFirst, with choices including health, dental, vision, life and disability coverage. You and your employees benefit from the state of the art technology and extensive support provided by the HealthPass team.
HealthPass helps you support your employees to make their own health insurance decisions. You set a defined contribution amount and each employee chooses the plan that is right for their family's medical needs and budget. Through HealthPass' partner carriers (oxford, HealthFirst, Oscar and Emblem), HealthPass members are afforded greater access to doctors and hospitals than any individual insurer network of providers.
With over 700,000 providers collectively participating in HealthPass networks, there is a greater opportunity for employees to choose a plan that covers their most important doctors and hospitals in the area they live and work in. Only one enrollment form, one bill and one customer service line to answer all of your questions. HealthPass takes the burden off employers by handling COBRA administration and providing a confidential advocacy resources to help employees with the questions you don’t need or want to be involved in – resolving claims, scheduling appointments or handling complex issues.
By utilizing the HealthPass choice model employers can better predict their health costs and employees get to select coverage that is right for them - a win- win for everyone!
As a hardworking small business owner, you need a healthcare company that understands your employees the way you do. With over 20 years in New York and more than one million members and growing, Healthfirst is here for you and your employees with top-rated health plans that fit New Yorkers of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels.
HealthFirst Insurance rates can be as much as 1/3 lower than comparable plans from Aetna, Oxford, United Helathcare, or EmblemHealth in the downstate counties of Kings, Queens, Richmond, New York, Nassau, Suffolk or the Bronx.
Highlights
Comprehensive benefits that include dental and vision coverage, 24/7 telemedicine access, acupuncture, exercise rewards, and even more to help members get active and stay healthy
-
Members have access to a broad network of providers and dozens of industry-leading hospitals
-
Member service offered in the many languages
-
Community locations throughout New York City and Long Island, where members can ask questions about their coverage and learn about community events
-
No-referrals
-
Acupuncture and gym subsidy plans
If you’re a small business owner with 1-100 employees and need healthcare coverage for your business, find out now how Healthfirst can help.
See Healthfirst Pro Plans Q1 2022 here
See Healthfirst Pro Plus Plans Q1 2022 here
See Healthfirst Pro Q3 2021 EPO here
See Healthfirst Pro Plus Q3 2021 EPO here


The New York Health Alliance is the ultimate employee benefits marketplace for Business Owners — bringing consumer choice benefits to the Small Business market as well as the Individual market within the state of New York. The NYHA offers plans and products from competing health insurers: CareConnect, MVP Health Care and Oscar.
In addition to our health care partners, the NYHA also offers plans and products from competing ancillary insurers: Colonial Voluntary, ShelterPoint and Guardian Life. These partners can provide products such as dental, vision, term life, LTD, STD, AD&D, DBL, Medical Bridge, HRA / HSA Admin, COBRA Administration, Payroll Service, making the New York Health Alliance the ultimate employee benefit market place.
With the NYHA, your employees choose from a full menu of Health & Ancillary benefit plans, which include: EPO, PPO, and High Deductible type plans. Employees fill out a universal enrollment form showing all available plan options, and the employer receives one simple bill.
Select! Don’t Settle!
Cigna offers group insurance coverage to employers with 51 or more full-time employees, as well as administrative services for self-funded plans with as few as 25 full-time employees in most states. If you think your small business would benefit from group insurance coverage with Cigna, let us know and NY Small Health can help you get started.


UnitedHealthcare is the number one health insurance company in the country with an excellent local and national network. Plans are available in all counties in upstate New York. Downstate New York counties are serviced by Oxford Health Plans [UnitedHealthcare company]. UnitedHealthcare offers three plans in downstate NY as part of the North Shore LIJ CareConnect network.
To search the MD network click link – UnitedHealthcare Doctor Search
Capital District Physicians Health Plan offers PPO, EPO, HMO plans as well as high-deductible health plans [HSA and HRA]. Rates are among the lowest available in the Eastern/Central Capital region of New York State. CDPHP is the highest rated health insurance company in New York State.The high-deductible plans offered [HAS/HRA] are the lowest cost health plans available anywhere in New York. CDPHP offers options when designing your health plans, allowing you to sign on to a plan that is right for your organization. The EPO options offer good value with low rates.
CDPHP Health Plans [EPO/PPO] require a minimum of 50% enrollment of all full-time employees. HMO plans have no participation requirements. No referrals are needed. National network access is available through the FirstHealth National network for claims arising outside of New York State.
To search the MD network click link – CDPHP Doctor Search


MVP is available in most counties North of New York City. EPO, PPO and high-deductible [HSA/HRA] plans are available through MVP Health Care. MVP currently has no minimum enrollment requirements. Groups of two or more employees or groups as few as one employee can enroll. Additionally, you can enroll out of area employees without restriction utilizing the Cigna national network.
To search the MD network click link - MVP doctor search
Univera Healthcare is a subsidiary of Excellus Blue Cross. Univera is primarily a Buffalo region (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties) health insurance provider. Univera offers EPO, PPO and High deductible [HAS/HRA] health plans. Univera requires 75% participation after valid waivers. Univera also offers individual plans in these regions.
To search the MD network click link -Univera Healthcare Doctor Search


Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield – Excellus offers PPO and high-deductible [HSA/HRA] in the Utica, Syracuse and Rochester regions. Excellus require 75% participation after valid waivers. Excellus also offers individual plans in these areas.
To search the MD network click link - Excellus Blue Cross Doctor Search