health insurance Archives - Serious Startups

Startup Insurance, Health Insurance, YEC, Scott Gerber

With the Affordable Care Act set to take effect in January 2014, many entrepreneurs and business owners still have serious concerns and fears about potential increases to premiums, state exchanges and compliance-related issues. To help them navigate the health insurance landscape, YEC (Young Entrepreneur Council), an invite-only organization of elite entrepreneurs, has launched StartupInsurance, a health insurance destination created by business owners for business owners with a carefully curated collective of providers and affordable insurance plans from across the nation.

StartupInsurance provides startups, business owners, and job-unlocked individuals–people who are likely to transition into self-employment as a result of being able to purchase health insurance options outside of traditional employers–with direct access to affordable, quality health insurance options, while removing confusion and time inefficiencies from the purchasing process. StartupInsurance connects the self-employed, their families and their employees to major medical health insurance options that will be fully compliant with the Affordable Care Act by 2014, ensuring that those insured individuals who purchase qualifying plans avoid tax penalties.

“As our nation becomes more entrepreneurial, and more Americans launch startups, start small businesses, and join the booming gig economy, YEC wants to be there to support business owners and newly job-unlocked individuals by providing them with access to quality, affordable health care insurance options throughout the United States,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Young Entrepreneur Council.

Through its direct carrier partnerships, StartupInsurance customers will benefit from access to one of the largest major medical footprints in the United States. Insurance options will be available in nearly every state across the nation via StartupInsurance.com. (Specifics about our carrier partners and available health insurance options are available upon request)

“In speaking to thousands of entrepreneurs, freelancers and small business owners over the years, we have learned what is important to them, what’s working for them–and most importantly, what isn’t,” said Scott Gerber, founder of YEC. “This direct feedback has guided our thinking in creating StartupInsurance–a destination created by the very people it’s serving.”

In the coming weeks, StartupInsurance’s health insurance options will also be made available to the business customers and members of various organizations and corporations, including FedEx, Grasshopper, Wave Apps, LegalZoom, Moo, Startup Weekend, Dwolla, Crowdspring, 99designs and others.

“As a leader in the small business space, Wave understands how important it is for business owners to find affordable healthcare for themselves and their employees,” said Kirk Simpson, co-founder and CEO of Wave. “We are excited to provide our customers with bestc of breed insurance products through YEC’s StartupInsurance and SmallBusinessInsurance. As we enter uncertain times with the changing healthcare landscape, these insurance products will bring certainty and predictability for our customers.”

In addition to StartupInsurance, YEC is also launching FreelancerHealthcare (www.FreelancerHealthcare.com) and SmallBusinessInsurance (www.SMBinsurance.com) to assist freelancers and small business owners, respectively. StartupInsurance is the first of several business products and back office services that YEC’s new services division will bring to market to help power business owners and America’s thriving gig economy.

Self-employed individuals and business owners interested in StartupInsurance can get quick quotes and apply online at www.StartupInsurance.com or call (888) 707-1484. Organizations interested in connecting their customers and members with StartupInsurance options can contact info@theyec.org for more information. StartupInsurance videos, embed codes and collateral at http://startupinsurance.com/materials.php

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

Find out more about Startup Insurance and the YEC When Scott Gerber speaks at this national startup conference Sep 29-Oct 1st in Cincinnati.

Back in July during one of Tech Cocktail’s legendary mixers in Washington DC, my good friend Scott Case, the founding CTO at Priceline.com and the current CEO of Startup America was speaking. As normal, at the end of his great speech which I remember involved gambling, women and priceline.com, he had a little Q&A.

I have been a Startup America supporter and Champion since the beginning and am always on listservs, chat rooms, and even here preaching the gospel about Startup America. Well that didn’t sit too well with one woman from Pennsylvania. We were on the Philly Startup ListServ and I was writing someone about Startup America. Now before Startup PA even opened it’s doors she was all over me about how Startup America gave her no benefit what so ever. Then, she kept on bringing up healthcare like we were talking about Startupacare or Obamacare.

I relayed this conversation during the Q&A with Case and brought the room to great laughter since I did a great impression of the whiney woman on the Philly list serv. But as a Type II diabetic and an entrepreneur since 2003 I was actually curious about the health insurance. Case admitted that while building out regions was Startup America’s focus for the immediate future, there were talks going on about health insurance.

Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and the self employed account for a huge uninsured segment. Truth be told I was looking forward to next year when Obamacare takes over since I couldn’t afford healthcare on my own and 90% of everyone (even Cigna at the time) was either too much or refused me altogether because of the diabetes.

Well low and behold just moments ago I received an email from Donna Harris at the Startup America Partnership announcing an exciting partnership with Cigna for mentorship, education and of course health insurance.

So I quickly glanced over the mentorship and education part, great stuff by the way, and I clickity clicked through to the health insurance part. I filled out the form and within nano seconds I was talking with Shelly from Cigna on the phone. She knew I was signing up via Startup America and BOOM! It’s done** (disclaimer part: of course health insurance is underwritten but I was informed that even with the Type II diabetes the rate she quoted was good). So alas if all goes well Shelly tells me I can go to the doctor for a mere $25 starting next month vs the $85 I have been paying!

In a statement this morning Case said:

“We know how important mentoring, education, and health insurance benefits are to startups, and we’re excited to bring Cigna on board as a new partner to help our members,” said Scott Case, CEO of the Startup America Partnership. “Cigna believes, as we do, that entrepreneurship is a core American value and critical to the country’s long-term economic success.”

The real deal here is that health care, education and insurance is one of the biggest things that hold entrepreneurs back. Healthy entrepreneurs make healthy startups and healthy startups mean more jobs. Really it’s that simple.

Linkage:

Go check out the new partnership with Cigna and sign up for your own insurance here

More Startup America coverage from us here

Come to everywhereelse.co

Young Entrepreneur Council Launches Startup Insurance

Boom I’ve Got Health Insurance, Thank You Startup America And Cigna