If it's individual, what are you doing with the people in a startup that are considered uninsurable (it's not 2014 yet so no guaranteed insurance). Some states, like MN with it's MCHA program, have guaranteed-issue pools for people who are denied, but that's only about 25% of states. Are you limiting your exposure to those states till 2014?
I've spent a lot of time in the health insurance/health care space, so I can appreciate the complexity in the benefits market. My last startup, Bloom Health, was in a similar space (defined contribution health plans for small employers) and we sold to Wellpoint, HCSC, and BCBS of MI in 2011. We started with individual plans, but eventually switched to group plans because the individual space was just too hard without PPACA in place. Lots of opportunities here now that it's almost 2014 and Obama has been re-elected. Good luck!
It's small-group right now, each company is its own group. Right now we are CA only but plan to expand rapidly in other states -- although it might take quite some time before we're everywhere.
I wish they'd publish more info about their vendors (i.e., is the 401k a bunch of high load or expense ratio extortion, or is it Fidelity/Vanguard funds?)
We don't get paid by 401K companies, so we don't have an incentive to recommend anything other than what we think is awesome for you.
Also, one thing we've promised our early 401K clients -- if they want to work with a 401K company that isn't on our list, we'll build an integration specially for them.
http://www.employeefiduciary.com/
I haven't looked into it in a while, but if I'd been able to talk my employer into adding/changing vendors this is the vendor I would have chosen. It would be interesting to read your thoughts.
Edit: Melting servers. :) Just got a JSON response that looked failing.
PS: And the server should be unmelted as of now. :)
If you need sexual harassment training, & other liability-reducing stuff, TriNet makes a lot of sense.
Doesn't TriNet have one of the deepest discount packages because they are pooling 100,000s of people?
The idea that I can "just make a signature" with a mouse is hilarious from a UI point of view and seems highly glossed over (both UI wise and legally).