Cigna, Oscar to team up on small-business health plans

The companies see an opportunity in the small-business space, which accounted for 40 percent of net job creation in 2018.

Offering health insurance for their employees has long been a pain point for small business owners. Recognizing this, health insurers Cigna and Oscar have teamed up to offer a solution.

“Together, we are giving small business owners an affordable, simple-to-use option that makes it easier for their employees to get appropriate care quickly and stay healthy,” said Joel Klein, Oscar’s chief policy and strategy officer.

Related: Small businesses burdened by rising health costs

The companies see an opportunity in the small-business space, which accounted for 40 percent of net job creation in 2018. The new “consumer-centric” plans will include services such as:

According to Forbes, he new partnership represents the biggest expansion yet for Oscar since its launch in 2014. The two companies will split the risk of the fully insured plans equally, utilizing a reinsurance agreement. The plans are still subject to regulatory approval but are expected to begin rolling out in select markets in 2020.

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