Firms go to school on health exchange
BeWellnm offers help negotiating options for health insurance
Cristie Stein of Nautical Steins Sewing, an embroidery business, wanted to know how to make her company’s operations more affordable. So on Tuesday she went to a New Mexican restaurant downtown for a presentation hosted by the state’s health insurance exchange.
“It used to be that if you worked hard enough, you knew you would be able to earn a living,” said Stein. “It doesn’t feel that way any more.”
There was free lunch at Cocina Azul: red and green enchiladas, rice and beans and iced tea for those of the eight attendees who asked for it. There was also Katrina Smith, broker relations manager for beWellnm, who gave a short lecture on what the exchange can offer small businesses.
“Health insurance is changing every day,” said Smith. “We want to be your resource so you can keep up with those changes.”
To that end, said Smith, beWellnm can connect businesses with free agents and brokers to educate organizations on plan options, administration and tax credits. The organization can also provide webinars, presentations, meetings and printed materials to employees.
There are more than 225 small businesses representing more than 1,300 employees enrolled in plans on the exchange, according to a spokesman.
Patrick Olivas, an agent with Integrity Insurance, said education about health insurance options is crucial for small businesses, especially in light of rising premiums. An analysis by California’s insurance marketplace rated New Mexico as having a “high risk” of a 50 percent increase in premiums by 2021.
“Health insurance is one of the largest line items for small businesses,” said Olivas. “You do hear about some small businesses that just decide to go without.”
Stein said it was sometimes hard to justify the cost of insurance.
“But it’s not something you want to gamble with,” she said.
BeWellnm is hosting several other sessions throughout the state this month. For more information, visit www.beWellnm. com or call 1-833-ToBeWell.