How Much Does Small Business Health Insurance Cost? Real Numbers 2024-2025
If you're a small employer in New York, you're probably asking:
How much does employee health insurance cost in Ithaca?
Here’s a clear look at what small businesses actually pay, including real examples and sourced averages.
Average Costs for Small Teams
Group health plans for small teams often cost around $746 per employee per month for single coverage, with higher premiums for more comprehensive plans or smaller group sizes.
Individual plans with reimbursement (ICHRA) often $524 average and $998/month per employee, depending on location and employer size
Direct Primary Care (DPC) costs range from $70-90/month per employee for unlimited access to care
Premiums may vary by age, coverage level, and employer contribution. But for most small businesses, these ranges give a reliable baseline.
What’s Affordable Small Business Health Coverage in NY?
“Affordable” means different things depending on whether you're paying for full insurance, just access to care, or both.
Options like Direct Primary Care and reimbursement models are helping small employers shift away from high-cost group plans while still taking care of their teams.
For example, while group plans can cost over $700/month per employee, Direct Primary Care often comes in under $100, with no copays, no deductibles, and unlimited access. That’s a potential savings of thousands per employee each year, depending on your setup.
Exploring More Affordable Alternatives: Healthshare Plans
For some businesses, even group plans or reimbursement models can feel out of reach. In these cases, healthshare plans offer a different kind of solution, not just in cost, but in philosophy.
Homesteady Health is an affiliate of Zion Health, a non-profit healthshare community. Unlike insurance, this model isn’t based on premiums or claims. Instead, members contribute to a shared fund that supports one another during major medical events.
Healthshare plans stand out for their:
Community-based model over corporate structures
Flexibility outside of traditional insurance rules
Focus on transparency, simplicity, and shared responsibility
While they aren’t a fit for everyone, they’re worth considering, especially when paired with Direct Primary Care, to build a more affordable and values-aligned approach to employee healthcare.
Bottom Line
If you're a small business looking for affordable health coverage in New York, you don’t have to guess or overspend.
Book a free consult with Homesteady Health to talk through real costs and build a plan that fits your budget and team.