The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) today launched a new Web site to help California business owners with 50 or fewer employees make informed decisions about offering health benefits.

HealthCoverageGuide.org is a comprehensive source for unbiased health coverage information. Site visitors are guided through a series of considerations to help them decide whether health insurance is right for their business, and then offered step-by-step support for choosing and implementing a coverage plan. The site includes information on:

• Rights and regulations related to the purchase of coverage;
• The tax implications of offering coverage; and
• Options that may make health benefits more affordable and simpler to administer.

  CHCF developed the Web site in response to research findings that businesses with between two and 50 employees are least likely to offer health insurance as an employee benefit. Small business owners who do not offer coverage are less aware of their market options and the protections available to them under California law than those who offer coverage.

  "Obtaining health care coverage for employees can be time consuming and confusing," said Marian Mulkey, CHCF program officer. "By giving small business owners a place to go for information and tools to help them assess costs and options, we hope more companies will consider providing health benefits."

  HealthCoverageGuide.org contains:
• Unbiased information on offering medical coverage;
• A step-by-step guide that shows how to purchase medical coverage;
• Issues to consider in assessing health insurance plans, products, and costs; and
• Links to additional resources.

  "HealthCoverageGuide.org will be a valuable resource for small employers and we’re pleased to support the California HealthCare Foundation in launching the site," said Allan Zaremberg, president, California Chamber of Commerce. "The California Chamber has always supported the idea of employers voluntarily offering health benefits to employees if they can afford to do it and this site will help them determine whether or not they can.

  “Many times, small employers are too busy running their businesses to do the research to find out if health insurance is feasible. With this site, employers will now be able to go to one place to determine if they can afford health benefits, and then be led step-by-step through the process of what they need to do to get it."