Rising health insurance costs make it harder for small and mid-sized businesses to offer the coverage their teams need. Trek Insurance Solutions helps employers build affordable, competitive group healthcare benefits — without the complexity or the renewal shocks of traditional group plans.
We work with leading carriers and platforms, including Benefit Airship, to deliver level-funded health plans with broad PPO networks, integrated pharmacy benefits, telehealth, and optional dental and vision — all managed through one streamlined platform. The result is a stronger benefits package that supports recruiting and retention, at a cost that fits your business.
What are group healthcare benefits?
Group healthcare benefits are health insurance plans an employer offers to its employees and their dependents. Instead of each employee buying individual coverage, the employer sponsors a plan — often sharing the cost — that covers the whole team.
For small and mid-sized businesses, the right group plan does three things: it gives employees real access to doctors and care, it keeps the business’s costs predictable, and it helps the company compete for talent against larger employers. The challenge is finding a plan structure that does all three without stretching the budget.
How can a small business afford group health insurance?
Traditional group health insurance keeps getting more expensive, cutting into margins every year while service and simplicity decline. But there are alternatives designed for smaller employers.
Level-funded plans are one of the most effective options. Instead of a traditional fully-insured group plan — where the carrier sets a flat per-employee rate and absorbs (or passes along) claims risk — a level-funded plan lets the employer pay a fixed monthly amount that covers expected claims, stop-loss insurance, and administration. If claims come in lower than expected, the employer may receive money back. This structure gives smaller businesses the cost predictability and savings that were once available only to large companies.
Through our partners at Benefit Airship, Trek offers level-funded plans with:
- Plans starting at $269 to $799 per employee, depending on plan design and census
- A $0 deductible option for employers who want to minimize out-of-pocket costs for their team
- A broad PPO network — access to more than 1 million healthcare providers and 6,000 hospitals through UnitedHealthcare
- Integrated pharmacy benefits so prescriptions are part of the plan, not a separate purchase
- Telehealth and virtual care included, so employees can reach a doctor without an office visit
What coverage options are available through Benefit Airship?
Benefit Airship offers a range of coverage options that an employer can mix and match to build a benefits package that fits their team:
- Major medical health plans — level-funded PPO plans with broad provider access and a $0 deductible option
- Dental care — through Aetna, the largest dental provider in the country, with more than 250,000 dentists and concierge support to help employees find lower-cost providers
- Virtual care — award-winning telehealth that begins with a physician consult and guides employees through diagnosis, scheduling, treatment, and billing
- Accident care — comprehensive accident insurance designed to protect employees and their families from the financial impact of accidental injuries
- Mental health support — virtual therapy and counseling, including grief and stress management, with private sessions from home
Employees enroll through a single platform — register, customize, and launch coverage in minutes with no complex administration. Enroll by the 15th of the month to activate benefits for the 1st of the next month.
Is a level-funded plan right for my business?
A level-funded plan tends to work well for businesses with a relatively healthy, younger workforce, where claims are likely to come in below expectations and the employer may receive a refund. It is less ideal if your team’s census is older or your claims history is unpredictable.
A licensed Trek agent can review your census, your current plan (if you have one), and your budget, then quote across multiple funding models — not just one carrier — so you see the real spread. Comparing four traditional group plans is comparing one option four times. We help you compare across structures.
What if I do not want to offer a traditional group plan?
There are alternatives to a traditional fully-insured group plan:
- Level-funded plans — fixed monthly cost, potential refund if claims are low, stop-loss protection built in
- ICHRA (Individual Coverage HRA) — you set a monthly dollar amount per employee class and reimburse employees for individual coverage they choose themselves; your cost becomes a number you set rather than a number you receive
- Voluntary and supplemental benefits — optional coverage (dental, vision, accident, disability, life) that employees choose and fund through payroll deductions, with little or no cost to the employer
The right answer depends on your budget, your team, and what you want the benefits package to do for recruiting and retention. We help you compare all three side by side.
Why choose Trek Insurance Solutions for group healthcare benefits?
Trek Insurance Solutions is an independent brokerage — we represent many carriers, not one, so the recommendation fits your business, not a sales quota. Our licensed agents work with small and mid-sized businesses across multiple states to build benefits packages that balance cost, coverage, and competitiveness.
- No-cost consultations — independent agents are paid by the carriers, not by you, so reviewing your options adds nothing to your premium
- Multiple carriers and platforms — including Benefit Airship, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and other leading companies
- Local agents — a real person you can reach when something changes, not a call center
- Full benefits support — group health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement plans, and voluntary benefits in one conversation
Trek Insurance Solutions is licensed in 19 states. For more information, visit us at trekis.net or call 888-960-0442.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does group health insurance cost for a small business?
Costs vary by state, group size, employee ages, dependents, and plan design. Through Benefit Airship, level-funded plans start at $269 to $799 per employee, with a $0 deductible option available. The only honest way to know your real number is to quote your actual census across multiple funding models — we can do that quickly and at no cost.
What is the difference between level-funded and traditional group health insurance?
A traditional fully-insured group plan charges a flat per-employee rate regardless of how much coverage is actually used, and the carrier absorbs the claims risk. A level-funded plan has the employer pay a fixed monthly amount covering expected claims, stop-loss insurance, and administration — and if claims come in below expectations, the employer may receive money back. Level-funded plans give smaller businesses cost control that was once reserved for large companies.
Can employees keep their doctors?
The level-funded plans we offer through Benefit Airship use a broad PPO network with access to more than 1 million healthcare providers and 6,000 hospitals through UnitedHealthcare. Most employees can keep their existing doctors, but we verify network participation for your specific team during the quoting process.
Do I have to offer health insurance to my employees?
Employers with fewer than 50 full-time-equivalent employees are generally not required to offer health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Many still do, because coverage is what retains people — and losing one experienced employee usually costs more than a year of their premium. If you are considering dropping coverage on cost alone, it is worth understanding the alternatives before you decide.
How long does it take to set up a group health plan?
Once you choose a plan and submit your census, enrollment can begin quickly. Employees enroll through the Benefit Airship platform — register, customize, and launch in minutes. Enroll by the 15th of the month to activate benefits for the 1st of the next month.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. Trek Insurance Solutions offers no-cost, no-obligation consultations. Independent agents are compensated by the insurance carriers, so reviewing your options with us does not add to your premium. You are never charged a fee to compare plans or get advice.
Talk to a Licensed Agent Today
Find out what group healthcare benefits could look like for your business. Consultations are always no-cost and no-obligation. Call 888-960-0442 or use the form below to schedule a conversation.