Health Insurance Options Every Small Business Owner in Hampton Roads Should Know

Running a small business in Hampton Roads is more than a full-time job. Between managing employees, taking care of customers, and making sure the numbers work, health insurance often feels like one more overwhelming expense.

But here’s the truth: the type of health insurance you choose for yourself and your team can make or break your ability to keep good employees. If you’re a small business owner in Norfolk, Chesapeake, or Virginia Beach, you’ve probably seen firsthand how hard it is to compete with larger companies that offer group benefits.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to use expensive group plans to take care of your people.

I work with business owners across Hampton Roads to build affordable health insurance strategies using private market plans tailored to each employee’s needs. This approach often saves businesses — and their workers — hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year.

Why Health Insurance Options Matter More Than Ever

Turnover is expensive. When an employee leaves for a bigger company with better benefits, you lose more than just a worker. You lose time, training investment, and often the trust of customers who were used to that familiar face.

Offering affordable health coverage doesn’t just “check the box.” It:

• Shows loyalty — You care about your employees’ health and their families.

• Keeps costs predictable — A smarter insurance setup prevents unexpected budget strain.

• Boosts retention — People stay when they feel secure.

  
  

The challenge for small business owners is that group health plans are expensive, rigid, and often don’t make sense for teams under 20 people. That’s where private market individual plans come in.

The Problem with Group Health Plans

Many small business owners think they have two health insurance options: either buy into a costly group plan or send their employees to the government Marketplace.

But here’s the issue with those approaches:

• Group Plans: Premiums are often sky-high, and they usually require a minimum number of employees to participate. For businesses with high turnover or fewer staff, they’re rarely sustainable.

• Marketplace Plans: For 2025, Marketplace costs are rising while coverage isn’t improving to match. That means employees and owners are paying more each month without getting better benefits.

  
  

So what’s the alternative?

The Better Way: Private Market Individual Plans

Instead of forcing your whole business into one expensive group policy, you can give each employee their own individual plan through the private market.

Here’s why this approach works for Hampton Roads business owners:

1. Flexibility: Every employee chooses a plan that fits their needs and family situation. No more one-size-fits-all.

2. Affordability: Individual private market plans are often far cheaper than group coverage. Many business owners are surprised by how much they save.

3. Retention: Employees value choice and security. Knowing their health needs are covered reduces the temptation to jump ship.

4. No Hidden Strings: Unlike group plans, there’s no participation requirement or risk of rates skyrocketing because one employee files a major claim.

   
   

As a broker, I work with over 100 health insurance companies, which means I can shop across the market to find the best options — not just what’s listed on the Marketplace.

Real-World Scenario: A Norfolk HVAC Business

Take a 12-person HVAC company in Norfolk. The owner thought his only option was to buy a group health plan, but the premiums were higher than what his business could handle. He considered sending employees to the Marketplace, but the quotes he saw there didn’t look much better.

We sat down, reviewed his team, and set each employee up with their own private market plan. The results?

• Employees got coverage that fit their unique needs.

• The owner saved thousands compared to a group policy.

• Turnover slowed because employees felt valued.

  
  

This is the kind of win-win that most small business owners don’t realize is possible until we talk it through.

What’s Changing with Marketplace Plans for 2025

Here’s something most small business owners don’t realize: the health insurance Marketplace is changing starting in 2025. Premiums are going up, while coverage isn’t improving to match those higher costs.

That means if you or your employees go the Marketplace route this year, you could end up paying more each month without getting better benefits in return.

This is exactly why I focus on private market plans. With access to over 100 insurance companies, I can often find coverage that’s more affordable and more tailored to each person than what they’d get on the Marketplace.

Why Work with a Local Broker Like Me

You could spend hours on search engines trying to decode policies, but most of those sites don’t know Hampton Roads — and they definitely don’t know your business.

Here’s what I offer as a local broker:

• Personal guidance: I explain your options in plain English, no jargon.

• A wide network: Access to over 100 health insurance companies.

• No extra cost: I don’t charge you a fee. Insurance companies pay me, so you get all the expertise without paying a dime more.

• Local focus: I live and work in Chesapeake. I know the challenges small businesses face here in Hampton Roads.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a small business owner in Hampton Roads, don’t get stuck thinking group health insurance or Marketplace plans are your only choices. You and your employees deserve affordable coverage that actually fits your lives — and it exists in the private market.

Whether you’re running an HVAC shop in Norfolk, a catering company in Chesapeake, or a boutique in Virginia Beach, I can help you save money while protecting your team.

Let’s talk about your options for 2025 before you lock into a plan that costs too much and doesn’t deliver enough.

Take control of your health insurance costs today. Call Jason at 757.632.7567 or schedule your free consultation online: https://meetings.hubspot.com/jason-ruhlman?uuid=7f6542ba-39e1-4794-b8ef-21d1e826a03f. Let's find you coverage that protects both your health and your budget.