Grapevine Chamber of Commerce Offers New Health Plans

Small business owners have a new option to provide healthcare to their employees. The Texas Chamber Health Plan, offered by the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, is designed for companies with 1 to 99 team members. There isn’t an enrollment period, so companies can apply at any time. Larger businesses can apply, but may be directed to another plan.

“We have been looking for an opportunity to put together an insurance program specifically for small businesses for several years now,” says RaDonna Hessel, CEO of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce. “We found a group plan that is mostly through Cigna with auxiliary plans through MetLife, and it’s been very successful so far for the companies using it.”

This program makes healthcare more accessible for business owners, supporting small companies and entrepreneurs in the area. It can also assist with hiring efforts, as companies can more easily attract talent by offering healthcare benefits. 

The Health Plan is Designed to be Accessible and Affordable

The Grapevine Chamber of Commerce partnered with a national provider to offer local businesses healthcare options and streamline benefits package creation. It started with a soft rollout for members and is now publicly promoting the option to companies that need it.

“What interested us, along with the cost, is that the average rate increase for the plan is only five percent,” says Hessel. “It can be a low-cost option for businesses, and doesn’t tie them to an enrollment window. A new business that opens this year can jump on the plan.”

This program can be used by solopreneurs or companies with several employees. It’s free to receive a quote, and business owners do not need to accept the quotes and enroll unless it benefits their bottom line. There are six different plans to choose from, with different coverage levels and deductibles. While the application process to get a quote is designed to be easy, acceptance isn’t guaranteed.

Additionally, not all employees need to be on the plan. Some might prefer to keep their current healthcare coverage. However, businesses are required to cover at least 50% of the plan's cost – they cannot pass the entire bill on to their employees. This is a way for companies to offer healthcare benefits to support talent attraction and retention. 

Healthcare Supports the Chamber’s Vision for Business Growth

Hessel explains that business owners must be members of a chamber of commerce to enroll in the Texas Chamber Health Plan, but they don’t have to be members of the Grapevine Chamber. The plan was specifically named to support Texas business owners, including those outside of Grapevine city limits.

“Our goal for the chamber is to make it easier to be in business and stay in business,” says Hessel. “When you ask business owners what keeps them up at night, healthcare comes up often.”

The Grapevine Chamber is preparing to hold Zoom meetings with other chambers of commerce to partner and promote this healthcare plan. This makes local chambers more valuable to companies while attracting higher levels of participation.

“We hope all businesses are members of their local chambers,” says Hessel. 

The Grapevine Chamber is Always Accepting Members

The Grapevine Chamber of Commerce also doesn’t have an enrollment period and welcomes companies to join at any time. Membership starts at $345 annually for businesses with 10 employees or fewer and scales slightly based on your organization's size. The Grapevine Chamber currently has around 1,000 member businesses, allowing companies across all industries to share resources, network, and grow together.

“The bigger we are, the stronger we are,” says Hessel. “We can address issues head-on and develop solutions to major pain points for local companies, like providing healthcare benefits.”

Businesses can visit the Grapevine Chamber website to become a member and learn about the Texas Chamber Health Plan. All healthcare information used to receive a quote is kept private. The Chamber does not have access to this information.  

The Chamber is One of Many Business Assets in Grapevine

Grapevine is a hub for business growth and entrepreneurship, with more companies opening their doors or expanding their operations here each year. In addition to the resources developed by the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, other providers in the community support local business investment. Learn more about these resource providers through the Grapevine Economic Development Department. You can find teams that help with hiring, permitting, and marketing, supporting all your growth needs. 

Contact our team to learn more about the available business resources. We want to hear about your business model and any exciting plans for the future.