New York, like California and Vermont, treats small-group coverage as a 1-to-100-employee market. The New York Department of Financial Services states that, under New York law and the ACA, the definition of "small group" is 1 to 100 employees, and that all non-grandfathered groups with 1 to 100 employees renewing on or after January 1, 2016 must be issued small-group coverage. DFS also states that New York did not adopt a transitional policy allowing 51-to-100 groups to remain in large-group coverage, and that Insurance Law §§ 3231(h) and 4317(e) prohibit the sale of stop-loss insurance to any group subject to community rating — a rule extended to groups with 51 to 100 employees beginning on issuance or renewal on or after January 1, 2016.
The employer base
The Census Bureau's Statistics of U.S. Businesses for 2022 (state detailed-size file, released April 10, 2025) counts 439,463 New York employer firms with fewer than 50 employees, out of 460,514 employer firms in the state, with 2,220,686 paid employees at those under-50 firms and 8,429,776 at all New York employer firms. Under-50 firms were 95.4% of New York employer firms in that file. As in California, the 51-to-100 band remains in the small-group market here; we do not invent a separate 51-to-100 firm count from SUSB classes that were not totaled that way.
What official surveys say about cost
Among the eight states in this update, New York has the highest published under-50 average premiums in MEPS-IC 2025. Table II.A.2 reports that 39.3% of private-sector establishments at New York firms with fewer than 50 employees offered health insurance, compared with 94.0% at firms of 50 or more (51.0% of all New York establishments). At under-50 firms, average annual premiums were $11,804 for single coverage and $30,351 for family coverage, with average employee contributions of $2,885 (single) and $9,527 (family). Those are statewide averages, not a New York City, Long Island, or upstate quote. See the cost of small-business health insurance.
Where to buy coverage, and what we will not list
New York employers can shop small-group coverage through the New York State of Health small-business marketplace or off the marketplace from issuers that file small-group products in the state. The keyword `ny state of health small business marketplace` in our map stays assigned to SHOP, because that page is the marketplace explainer; this page is the New York employer page. This update does not include an official 2026 New York small-group issuer list we could verify end-to-end, so we will not invent one. We will only compare products that can be issued for the New York counties and any other states on your roster. DFS and New York State of Health are the official places to confirm current issuers.
Continuation when someone leaves the plan
Federal COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees. DFS Insurance Circular Letter No. 23 (2009) describes a 36-month state continuation benefit required by Chapter 236 of the Laws of 2009. We will confirm how that statute applies to a given group's size and funding at proposal time, and we will point you to DFS rather than treat this paragraph as legal advice. See COBRA for employers.
How we help a New York employer
You send a roster, work locations, what you offer today, and your renewal date if you have one. We confirm the market you sit in and compare a fully insured small-group plan, SHOP or a state small-business marketplace where one applies, a level-funded design, an ICHRA or QSEHRA, or coverage arranged through a PEO. The method is on how to compare group health plans. Request a proposal or call (813) 540-1299.Frequently asked questions
Is a company with 80 employees still a small group in New York?
DFS states that the small-group definition is 1 to 100 employees and that non-grandfathered groups in that range must be issued small-group coverage. An 80-employee New York group is in that range under that definition. Counting rules still have to be applied to your roster.
Can a 51-to-100 New York group buy stop-loss and self-fund?
DFS states that Insurance Law §§ 3231(h) and 4317(e) prohibit the sale of stop-loss insurance to any group subject to community rating, and that this was extended to 51-to-100 groups on issuance or renewal on or after January 1, 2016. That is a New York-specific constraint we will flag on a proposal.
Does Ares have a New York office?
No. The only address on this site is 5701 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610. Our agents are licensed in all 50 states, including New York.Why are New York's published averages higher than Florida's or Texas's?
MEPS-IC 2025 under-50 averages for New York are $11,804 (single) and $30,351 (family), compared with $9,742 and $24,957 in Florida and $8,737 and $21,949 in Texas. Those are statewide survey averages, not a prediction of your quote.
How long is New York state continuation?
DFS Circular Letter No. 23 (2009) describes a 36-month state continuation benefit. Federal COBRA, where it applies, is a separate federal rule. We will confirm the current application of both to your group.
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