who we help
Small Group Health Insurance
Health coverage with a practical, independent perspective.
Small and mid-sized employers deserve benefits guidance that considers both workforce needs and budget realities. SilverStone reviews available options and helps build a group-health strategy with confidence.
What small group health coverage includes
Small group health insurance provides medical coverage to employees and their dependents through an employer-sponsored plan. Employers typically share the premium cost with employees, making it one of the most valued benefits in any compensation package. Plan structures vary significantly in how costs and flexibility are balanced.
Fully Insured Plans
The employer pays a fixed monthly premium to a carrier, which assumes all claims risk. Predictable costs and straightforward administration — the most common structure for smaller groups.
Level-Funded Plans
A hybrid between fully insured and self-funded. The employer pays a fixed monthly amount covering expected claims, stop-loss insurance, and administration. Unused claims funds may be returned at year-end.
Self-Funded Plans
The employer pays claims directly and purchases stop-loss coverage to cap exposure. Greater transparency into claims data and potential for significant savings for groups with favorable utilization.
HMO Plans
Health Maintenance Organization plans require employees to use a defined network and select a primary care physician. Lower premiums in exchange for less flexibility in provider choice.
PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization plans offer broader network access and no referral requirements. Higher premiums but greater employee flexibility — often preferred by professional workforces.
High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) with HSA
Lower-premium plans paired with a Health Savings Account. Employees take on more cost-sharing in exchange for tax-advantaged savings. Increasingly common as a primary or voluntary option.
Who this is for
Employers with 2–100 employees
Small group market rules apply to most employers in this range. SilverStone navigates carrier eligibility requirements, contribution rules, and participation thresholds on your behalf.
Companies experiencing rapid cost increases
If your renewal has come in above trend for two or more consecutive years, it is time for an independent benchmark. Most employers have never seen their plan compared against an objective standard.
Employers in competitive hiring markets
Health benefits are the single most evaluated benefit by job candidates. A well-structured plan — communicated clearly — is a direct recruiting and retention tool.
Organizations with diverse workforce demographics
A single plan rarely serves every employee equally well. We design multi-option strategies that give employees meaningful choice without creating administrative complexity for HR.
How SilverStone helps
We are an independent broker — not captive to any carrier. That means we shop the full market on your behalf, present a transparent comparison, and recommend the structure that fits your workforce. We stay involved through renewal, not just at placement.
Claims and cost benchmark
We analyze your current plan's cost against Medicare reimbursement rates and peer benchmarks to establish whether your spend is justified — or inflated.
Carrier and plan comparison
We run a full market quote across eligible carriers and present a side-by-side comparison of premiums, networks, plan designs, and total cost of coverage.
Enrollment and onboarding
We coordinate open enrollment communications, decision-support tools, and carrier onboarding so the transition is smooth for HR and employees alike.
Renewal management
We review your renewal 90 days in advance, negotiate with carriers, and present alternatives before you are pressured into accepting an increase.
When did you last benchmark your group health plan?
Most small employers accept their renewal without ever knowing whether the underlying cost is competitive. A 30-minute conversation with SilverStone will tell you exactly where you stand.
