Chamber offers Health Plan to members

WEIRTON -- The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning hosted a presentation to members to learn about a health-insurance plan offered through the Health Plan of Wheeling as an alternative to the Affordable Care Act.

The Health Plan entered into an agreement with the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce to offer health insurance plans to chambers of commerce throughout the state, according to Ryan Jewell, Health Plan commercial sales director. The agreement has been approved through the state insurance department.

The coverage is available for businesses with less than 100 employees, Jewell said, adding the plan won't be the best choice for all businesses but said about 60 percent will benefit from the plan.

The insurance plan will be available beginning Jan. 1.

Participation in the plan is governed by "good underwriting," Jewell said. The plan will be able to keep costs down because of the economy of scale and the number of participants. He said underwriting evaluations will keep adverse groups out, thereby keeping costs consistent. Members will face a minimal cost increase every year, compared to wide swings in costs associated with other plans, it was noted.

The coverage includes area hospitals and the Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. The plan doesn't cover costs associated with the UPMC Health Plan, with the exception of Children's Hospital. Participants won't need a referral unless they want to go to a physician in the Allegheny Health Network.

There are several ranges for deductibles, and Jewell said 50 percent of employees at a business must participate.

Brenda Mull, chamber president, said it has been a long time since the chamber was able to offer members a health plan.

"We are ecstatic to be able to offer this benefit to members," Mull said.

There are two local brokers for the insurance plan --Robert Babinchak of WesBanco Insurance Services and R. Nathan Mazur of USI, both of Wheeling.

Babinchak said the self-funded plan is a good alternative to the Affordable Care Act.

"It gives small businesses a chance to have a more affordable and traditional plan," he said.

Jewell anticipates the chamber insurance plan will be covering 4,000 people throughout the state by the end of 2019. He said meetings like the one held in Weirton will be held throughout the state to introduce the plan to small businesses.

Businesses can join the plan anytime during the year, but the renewal date is on Jan. 1. Also, businesses must be a member of the chamber of commerce.

Those interested in the coverage can contact the chamber at (304) 748-7212; Babinchak at (304) 234-9517; and Mazur at (304) 238-5547.