ChamberCare Business Resources Provides Long-Term Solution for Your Groups

In March, we shared information about ChamberCare Solutions, an enhancement to the partnership between the Indiana Chamber and Anthem. Now we’d like to tell you more about ChamberCare Business Resources, part of ChamberCare Solutions.

What is it?
ChamberCare Business Resources is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that allows Indiana Chamber members with 2+ employees to outsource human resource tasks like worker’s compensation, payroll and tax filing, employee benefit programs, compliance, and more. Using a PEO frees up time and resources so small businesses can focus on the well-being and direction of their company. ChamberCare Business Resources is administered by Human Capital Concepts (HCC), a leader in innovative technology and administrative solutions.

In addition, ChamberCare Business Resources offers affordable health benefits along with comprehensive human resources (HR) services that can help you keep your workforce healthy and save time and money. As a member of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, you can choose a high-quality, affordable health plan from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem), with a wide range of options designed especially for small to medium-sized companies.

Why use ChamberCare Business Resources?
According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), businesses that utilize a PEO grow 7% to 9% faster, enjoy 23% to 32% lower employee turnover and are over 50% less likely to go out of business.

Another benefit for Indiana Chamber members is access to high-quality, affordable health plan from Anthem, with a wide range of options designed especially for small to medium-sized companies. Through the PEO, Anthem pools membership so it can offer lower premiums on the same great head-to-toe coverage members expect from Anthem including medical, dental, vision, life and disability. As trusted organizations and pillars of the community, Anthem brings 73 years of experience coupled with the Chamber’s 95 years of service and HCC’s 125 years of combined staff experience offering a long term solution for your clients.

For more infomation about Anthem plans and benefits, check out our ChamberCare Business Resources Product Guide.

Need help finding the right solution for your clients?
Contact Indiana Chamber Director of Membership, Brock Hesler, at (317) 264-7539 or bhesler@indianachamber.com.

Questions About Open Enrollment? The Indiana Chamber has Answers

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Open enrollment for health care insurance is now upon us, and many businesses are faced with difficult choices for 2017. Premiums are expected to increase sharply under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) according to many experts – the Department of Insurance says some in Indiana have seen premiums go up by almost 70%!

The Indiana Marketplace (Indiana’s federally mandated online health care insurance exchange) has not been the answer many were hoping for. And don’t forget about the penalty for businesses choosing not to offer insurance to their employees – a penalty that will be adjusted each year to account for inflation.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been working since 2004 to provide members with reasonable health care insurance options supported by brands you trust. In 2016 and beyond, we’re excited to offer a new program called ChamberCare Solutions, with a larger portfolio of health plan options.

This partnership between the Indiana Chamber and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield can help you find the coverage that is right for your business. We are committed to coverage that is simple to understand and affordable. All plans comply with the ACA.

ChamberCare Business Resources: A professional employer organization (PEO) administered by Human Capital Concepts (HCC). Why a PEO? PEOs allow employers to outsource their HR functions and employee benefits programs to ensure they’re in compliance with HR laws and the ACA. By outsourcing to a PEO, you can focus on what you do best — running your business. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, businesses that use a PEO grow 7% to 9% faster, enjoy 23% to 32% lower employee turnover and are over 50% less likely to go out of business.

ChamberCare Savings: An excellent choice for companies with 51-99 employees, with 5% savings on any Anthem plan.

ChamberCare Exchange: Access to flexible, affordable health plans for companies with 2-50 employees.

Which solution is right for you and your employees? Contact your insurance broker today or call/email Brett Hulse, Indiana Chamber, at (317) 264-6858 or BHulse@indianachamber.com.

ChamberCare Solutions Program Provides Health Care Answers

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More than six years after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, it’s still not an easy process for companies to determine the best health care choices. Important assistance and options are now available through the ChamberCare Solutions program.

The Indiana Chamber has partnered with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield since 2004 on ChamberCare – an insurance discount offering for businesses with between two and 99 employees. More than 25,000 employee lives (and 50,000 lives when spouses and dependents are included) were covered through ChamberCare.

Now, ChamberCare Solutions takes that partnership to an even higher level with a suite of solutions to help meet insurance needs.

“The Indiana Chamber-Anthem partnership has been an excellent one for our member companies, as well as their employees and families,” says Jennifer Elkin, Chamber senior vice president of marketing. “There have been more questions than answers since the Affordable Care Act was signed. We’ve been listening, discussing and searching for the right tools and products – and we’ve found them in this evolution to ChamberCare Solutions.”

The ChamberCare Solutions options include:

  • ChamberCare Savings: This is the previous ChamberCare discount program – now available for companies with between 51 and 99 employees. This was made possible by the late 2015 signing of the PACE Act (Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees), which returned the definition of a small business back to one with fewer than 100 employees.
  • ChamberCare Exchange: For companies with fewer than 50 employees and a potentially unhealthy, higher-risk population, the exchange might be the best alternative. Important guidance and navigation is available through Anthem.
  • ChamberCare Business Resources or a PEO (Professional Employer Organization): This is an attractive option for companies that, in addition to a competitive health care product, are looking to outsource some of their human resources functions. The multiple employers in the PEO allow the advantage of using a company’s experience rating compared to the generally more volatile community rating.

The Indiana Chamber and Anthem are teaming with Indianapolis-based Human Capital Concepts (HCC) on the PEO. Harlan Schafir, CEO of HCC, started the state’s first PEO in the early 1990s; he and his team have more than 125 years of experience in the industry.

“We are in the midst of an unprecedented talent war,” Schafir explains. “A PEO allows companies to attract and retain talent by improving employee benefit offerings and helps these organizations mold an attractive culture. Working with a PEO allows companies to focus on their core mission. The PEO takes care of compliance with ever-complex laws and regulations; company leaders focus on running their business.”

  • ChamberCare Shared Savings: This is a future offering under development by Anthem. It is expected to allow for self-funding for employers with as few as 25 employees. To date, such plans have only been available for organizations with at least 100 employees.

“The Indiana Chamber has advocated and educated on health care issues for many years. We’re pleased to add this in-depth navigation benefit,” Elkin adds. “Being able to offer these choices – with more to come – will save members money and allow to further invest in their people and businesses.”

Learn more or contact Nick Luchtefeld at (800) 824-6885.

Add Chamber Membership to Your 2010 Business Plan: It Costs Less Than You’d Think

When times are tough, many members turn to the Indiana Chamber for unique membership benefits and discount programs to help their businesses. ChamberCare, our discount health insurance program with Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, is available to businesses outside of Marion County with 2-99 employees. Over 2,200 member companies currently enjoy a significant discount on their Anthem insurance as a result of our partnership. (Read about the benefits here.)
 
Members also have three free resources available with just one quick phone call or e-mail. The HR Helpline answers employment law and HR questions. The Business Research Center provides customized business lists, quarterly new/expanding business reports, demographics and wage information. The Communications/PR Resource Center provides the ability for members to post press releases on our web site, answers questions on press releases and social media and gives updated media list information.
 
As 2010 begins, we’d like to remind our members that our dues are 82% tax deductible. To join the Indiana Chamber, please click here.
 
Have a prosperous year!

ChamberCare Could Aid Your Health Care Woes

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In a shaky economy, most small business owners are searching for new avenues to be more frugal and to cut costs. The Indiana Chamber recognizes the need to save in these rollercoaster times. We’ve introduced a number of value added tools in recent years to help your bottom line. Health insurance continues to be at the top of the spending list for Indiana businesses. We encourage you to consider our ChamberCare health insurance discount program. Members of the Indiana Chamber have the opportunity to save 5% off of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield health insurance just by keeping their Indiana Chamber dues current. The program applies for new Anthem accounts with 2-99 employees who are located outside of Marion County.

The savings from ChamberCare could allow you to reinvest the money in a variety of areas. Numerous members have mentioned the savings with ChamberCare allowed them to offer salary increases, Christmas bonuses and reinvest the money in equipment and training.

Membership with the Indiana Chamber also provides you with a number of free services like the HR HELPLINE and the Business Research Center. A discount on health insurance, questions answered on HR topics at no charge and free lists from our Business Research Center can provide a strong ROI to your company in just a matter of days.

Contact Abby Hamilton at the Indiana Chamber – 317-264-3793 or ahamilton@indianachamber.com to learn more about ChamberCare. If you do not have an insurance agent, we are happy to connect you with the appropriate regional contact at Anthem.

Indiana Chamber’s Here: Come On In

What do we do at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce? Let’s start with what’s not on the list. We’re not a state agency (it was really bad when the current Indiana Economic Development Corporation was known as the Indiana Department of Commerce). We’re not a government entity, although we partner with them on occasion and keep a close eye on what they’re doing that impacts the state’s business climate.

Here’s a short list of what the Indiana Chamber does:

  • Represent the interests of the Indiana business community at the state and federal levels with eight full-time issue experts
  • Host 50 employee training seminars and produce regulatory compliance publications on critical business topics
  • Provide more than 4,800 member companies (from all types and sizes of businesses) with free assistance through a Business Research Center and telephone helplines
  • Offer several discount programs, including ChamberCare health insurance (through a partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield) for companies with between two and 99 employees
  • Produce the award-winning bimonthly BizVoice® magazine that offers news and analysis for more than 15,000 business owners, presidents, CEOs and business leaders
  • Deliver services (through affiliated programs) in workforce development (Ready Indiana) and internship coordination (Indiana INTERNnet)

Stay tuned as we look to help you learn more about the Indiana Chamber and all we offer for you.