The Pennsylvania Insurance Department's business-insurance page states that Pennsylvania defines small businesses as those with 50 or fewer full-time employees, and that Pennsylvania law reflects the federal maximum of 50 full-time employees, even though some states use different limits. The official page does not, in that sentence, state a one-employee or two-employee floor the way Texas, Illinois, and Ohio statutes do. It also uses "full-time employees," which is not always the same count as the federal full-time-equivalent methods used for the applicable-large-employer test or for some other states' small-group rules. We will not invent a floor that the Department's page does not state, and we will confirm how Pennsylvania counts a very small group, and which employees are treated as full-time, at proposal time.
The employer base
The Census Bureau's Statistics of U.S. Businesses for 2022 (state detailed-size file, released April 10, 2025) counts 218,445 Pennsylvania employer firms with fewer than 50 employees, out of 234,852 employer firms in the state, with 1,366,352 paid employees at those under-50 firms and 5,584,830 at all Pennsylvania employer firms. Under-50 firms were 93.0% of Pennsylvania employer firms in that file.
What official surveys say about cost
MEPS-IC 2025 Table II.A.2 reports that 30.0% of private-sector establishments at Pennsylvania firms with fewer than 50 employees offered health insurance, compared with 96.1% at firms of 50 or more (47.0% of all Pennsylvania establishments). That under-50 offer rate is close to, and slightly below, the national 32.1% figure. At under-50 firms, average annual premiums were $8,554 for single coverage and $24,389 for family coverage, with average employee contributions of $1,774 (single) and $5,659 (family). National MEPS-IC 2025 under-50 averages were $9,034 for single coverage and $24,176 for family coverage, with a 32.1% offer rate at establishments of firms with fewer than 50 employees. Pennsylvania's under-50 family employee contribution is the lowest published (non-asterisked) figure in this eight-state set. Those are statewide averages for enrolled employees at offering establishments, not a Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Harrisburg quote. See the cost of small-business health insurance.
The same Insurance Department page also discusses the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. Wage thresholds and other IRS tests change; we will use the current IRS Form 8941 instructions, not a stale summary figure, when we estimate whether a Pennsylvania employer may qualify. A company that is not an applicable large employer is generally not required to offer health coverage under the ACA employer shared-responsibility rules.
Who sells small-group coverage
This update does not include a verified official 2026 Pennsylvania small-group issuer list, so we will not invent one. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is the official place to confirm licensed issuers. We will only compare products that can be issued for the Pennsylvania counties and any other states on your roster. A national brand that sells small-group coverage in another state may not offer a Pennsylvania fully insured small-group plan.
Continuation when someone leaves the plan
Federal COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees. An official Pennsylvania continuation period was not confirmed end-to-end in the research for this file, so this page does not state a state-specific duration. We will confirm any Pennsylvania continuation rule with the Insurance Department at proposal time. See COBRA for employers.
How we help a Pennsylvania 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
What size company is a small group in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department states that Pennsylvania defines small businesses as those with 50 or fewer full-time employees, reflecting the federal maximum of 50. The official page used here does not state a one-employee or two-employee floor in that sentence. We will confirm counting rules for your roster.
Does Ares have a Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.What does coverage cost for a small Pennsylvania employer?
MEPS-IC 2025 under-50 averages for Pennsylvania are $8,554 (single) and $24,389 (family) a year, among enrolled employees at offering establishments. Your quote is built from your census.
Can you list the carriers that sell small-group plans in Pennsylvania?
Not as a complete official 2026 list in this update. We will confirm current issuers with official Pennsylvania sources and compare only products that can be issued for your locations.
Can we claim the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit?
Possibly, if the current IRS size, wage, contribution, and SHOP rules are met. The Insurance Department page discusses the credit; we will use current IRS instructions, which are on the tax credit page and the calculator in Section C of this file.
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