Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)

The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace helps businesses provide health coverage to their employees.

The SHOP Marketplace is generally open to employers with 1-50 full-time-equivalent employees (FTEs) (In Virginia, the FF-SHOP Marketplace is open to employers with 1-100 FTE employees.).  If you have fewer than 25 employees, you may qualify for a tax credit if you buy insurance through the SHOP Marketplace. Learn more about SHOP Marketplace eligibility rules and the Small Business Health Care tax Credit.

If you're a sole proprietor or self-employed with no employees, you can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace for Individuals and Families, but not through the SHOP Marketplace.

To access the SHOP Marketplace visit HealthCare.gov.

Benefits of the SHOP Marketplace

• You control the coverage you offer and how much you pay toward employee premiums.
• You can choose from up to 4 levels of health coverage to find plan offerings that meet the needs of your business and employees.
• You can choose to offer health only, dental only, or both health and dental coverage. If offering dependent coverage and an employee enrolls, the employee’s dependents can enroll in health only, dental only, or both health and dental coverage.
• You can start coverage any time. Enroll by the 15th of the month and coverage can begin on the 1st of the following month. Learn more about buying coverage through the SHOP Marketplace.
• If  you  have fewer than 25 employees, you may qualify for a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit worth up to 50% of your premium costs (up to 35% for tax exempt/non-profit employers). You can still deduct from your taxes the rest of your premium costs not covered by the tax credit. Beginning in 2014 the tax credit is generally available only for plans purchased through the SHOP Marketplace.

       Use the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Estimator to find out if you qualify and how much you may save.

How to know if you qualify for the SHOP Marketplace

• The SHOP Marketplace is open to employers with 1-50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. In some states, SHOP Marketplace is open to employers with 1-100  employees. Use our FTE Calculator to find out if you qualify to use SHOP.
• In order to use the SHOP Marketplace, you must offer coverage to all of your full-time employees – generally those working 30 or more hours per week on average.
• • In many states, at least 70% of employees offered coverage must accept the offer of   SHOP Marketplace coverage, or be covered by another form of coverage, in order for the employer to participate. (Employers who apply for or renew SHOP Marketplace coverage between November 15 and December 15 each year can enroll without meeting this requirement.) For help calculating the SHOP Marketplace minimum participation rate, visit the MPR Calculator.
• There is a SHOP Marketplace in each state. In order to participate in a the SHOP Marketplace, you  must have an office or employee work site within the SHOP Marketplace service area.

Get more details on SHOP Marketplace eligibility rules.

Preview plans and prices now

Browse health and dental plan information right now. See the available plans and sample prices based on the number and ages of employees and their dependents.

Apply for SHOP Marketplace coverage

To enroll in a SHOP Marketplace plan, choose your state here and we’ll help you get started.

SHOP Marketplace Resources

SHOP Marketplace Participation Provision Justification Form

SHOP Marketplace Participation Provision List of Issuers

SHOP Notices:

• SHOP Marketplace Enrollee Termination Notice
• SHOP Marketplace Employer Termination Notice
• SHOP Marketplace Dependent Aging Off Notice
• SHOP Marketplace Employee Annual Open Enrollment Period Notice
• SHOP Marketplace Employer Annual Election Period Notice

SHOP Marketplace Tools:

• Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Employee Calculator
• Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Estimator
• Minimum Participation Rate (MPR) Calculator
• See Plans and Prices

SHOP Marketplace Regulations and Guidance:

For additional resources, please visit marketplace.cms.gov

Questions?

Learn how to get help for the SHOP Marketplace.

Have questions about the SHOP Marketplace for businesses with 50 or fewer employees? Call 1-800-706-7893 (TTY: 711). Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Agents and brokers selling SHOP Marketplace coverage and employees with an offer of SHOP Marketplace coverage may also use this number