💼 From “We Can’t Afford It” to “We Found a Way”: A Real-Life Health Insurance Win for a Small Business

When a small business owner tells me, “We just can’t afford to offer health insurance right now,” I never dismiss it. I’ve been in those conversations more times than I can count—and I get it. Health insurance feels expensive. Complicated. Overwhelming. Especially when you're trying to manage payroll, overhead, and keep your team happy.

But here’s a real story that might just shift your perspective.

Meet the Business: A Family-Owned Construction Company with 8 Employees

They were doing great work—solid reputation, reliable team, and always booked out for months. But when they reached out to me, it was because two employees had mentioned leaving to take jobs with benefits. The owners had never offered health insurance before and assumed it would cost them thousands a month—money they didn’t think they had.

We talked through their goals, their budget, and their fears.

Then we got creative.

The Solution: A Level-Funded Plan + Supplemental Options

Instead of jumping straight into a traditional group plan, we explored a level-funded plan that offered them rate stability and the potential for a refund at the end of the year if claims were low. We also layered in voluntary supplemental benefits—like accident and critical illness coverage—so employees could customize their coverage without putting strain on the company budget.

We even looked at individual coverage options with ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement), which allowed the company to offer a defined monthly reimbursement while keeping costs predictable.

The Result: Retention, Relief, and a Reputation Boost

That was two years ago. Not only did they retain their top workers—they also hired two more, in part because they now do offer benefits. Their team feels valued, and the owners no longer feel stuck. They found a way. We helped make it happen.

Your Business Might Be Closer Than You Think

If you’ve been putting off offering benefits because you think they’re out of reach—talk to someone who knows how to make them work within a budget. I promise you: there are more options out there than you realize.

📩 Let’s talk. Even if you think your business is “too small.”

Email: cheryl@houtzinsurancellc.com 

Call: 610-207-6819