Benefits for a workforce in more than one state
Ares Benefit Group LLC is based in Tampa, Florida. We work with employers whose teams are local, and with employers whose people also work in other states. Our agents are licensed in all 50 states.
When employees live or work in more than one state, the benefits question is not only "what plan do we want." It is which structure can actually be issued, noticed, and administered for every location on the roster.
Start with a location-aware census
A usable census for a multi-state company includes, for each person, work location, residence if it differs, employment status, and the coverage class you intend to offer. We will not quote a group plan, a SHOP enrollment, or an HRA contribution from a headcount alone.
Group coverage and SHOP across state lines
Fully insured and level-funded group coverage is issued under rules that can vary by state. The state where the policy is sitused, and the states where people work, both matter. We will not treat a single "situs always works this way" rule as settled law. That review is case by case.
For SHOP coverage, HealthCare.gov describes two options for a business that operates in more than one state:
- Enroll in SHOP in the state where the primary business site is located, or
- Offer different SHOP plans in each state where employees work, if you meet that state's rules.
Participation is counted according to the option you use. HealthCare.gov's multi-state SHOP page is the starting point; we will confirm the current process for each state on the roster before you enroll.
Why an ICHRA is often a fit for a distributed team
An ICHRA lets employees buy individual coverage where they live, while the employer contributes a set amount. Work location is a permitted class, so you can vary the design by location within the federal rules, including the 3-to-1 age ratio and dependent rules inside a class.
A QSEHRA can also be used when the employer is not an applicable large employer and does not offer a group health plan, with the same IRS contribution cap in every state. The coverage employees buy is still individual coverage in their own market.
Neither arrangement erases state insurance rules for the underlying individual policy. It changes who shops for that policy.
What we will not assume
We will not assume that a plan issued for a Tampa office automatically covers a remote employee in another state on the same terms. We will not assume SHOP participation is counted the same way in every state. If a product cannot be issued in a state where you have employees, we will say so and recommend a structure that can.
Frequently asked questions
We have an office in Florida and remote employees in three other states. What do you need?
A roster with work locations and residences, the current plan if there is one, and whether you want one national design or a location-based design. From there we will compare a group or SHOP approach with an ICHRA.
Can we offer SHOP in only one state and something else elsewhere?
Sometimes. SHOP has state-level eligibility and participation rules. An ICHRA can be offered to a work-location class, subject to the class-size rules if a group plan is also offered. We will not combine structures in a way the federal rules do not allow.
Does "licensed in all 50 states" mean every product is available everywhere?
No. It means our agents are licensed in all 50 states. Product availability, appointments, and state insurance rules still have to be checked for the census you send.