Small Business Health Insurance Connection (SBHIC)

To address the growing number of uninsured employed individuals in Whatcom County, WAHA* has designed impartial tools and information to help small business owners assess whether SBHIC services are for you or your employees. WAHA does not sell insurance.

• WAHA's SBHIC services:
  For small business owner/employer
  For employees of small businesses
  For dependents of employees
  For the self-employed
  

The largest and growing numbers of uninsured individuals are employed by small businesses or are low income workers who cannot access or afford coverage. In Whatcom County, the majority of businesses are small businesses with 64% having four or fewer employees.  Half of these work in the services or retail trade sectors. The number of businesses that offer health insurance in the services and retail trade sectors is significantly less than the national average, with only 50% of employers offering health insurance to their employees. Although employers may want to support health care coverage for their workers, the cost of traditional commercial products and a lack of expertise in evaluating the options create barriers to providing coverage for employees.

• Small Business Survey
  Research results from a survey performed in early 2008 in conjunction with Whatcom County small businesses about their experiences with providing health insurance coverage to their employees
  

*in partnership with the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Western Washington University’s Center for Economic Vitality