Chamber Choice

MEMBERSHIP: Chamber Choice Insurance Meets Needs of Small Business Owners

"Since Chamber Choice was launched in August 2001, 215 small businesses that had no health insurance are now insured," said Jim Roberts, marketing group vice president, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. "That means health coverage for 668 Oklahomans who were previously uninsured."

Chamber Choice is a group health insurance plan available exclusively to members of the Chamber with two to 99 employees. More than 700 member companies are currently enrolled in Chamber Choice.

Within the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, approximately 73 percent of member companies have one to 25 employees. Another 10 percent have 26-50 employees, and 7 percent have 51-100 employees. A full 90 percent of Chamber members are eligible to participate in Chamber Choice.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and its qualified Chamber Choice producers are in the process of providing 2004 renewal information to all Chamber member companies currently enrolled in Chamber Choice.

For more information about Chamber Choice, Chamber members may:
- Contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma directly at 888/250-9020.
- Contact a qualified Chamber Choice producer.
- Contact ......

Sidebar:
Are health benefits a concern for small business? Absolutely!

Since most Chamber members are small businesses, Chamber Choice continues to be a valuable member benefit program. The plan is available exclusively to Chamber members with two to 99 employees.

According to a 2002 Small Employer Health Benefits Survey sponsored by BCBSA (BlueCross BlueShield Association):
- 61 percent of uninsured small firms do not offer health benefits because
they cannot afford it
- 55 percent of companies with 2-9 employees offer health benefits
- 74 percent of companies with 10-24 employees offer health benefits
- 88 percent of companies with 25-49 employees offer health benefits
- 2/3 of low-wage workers in firms with 2-9 employees do not have access to coverage through their employer

Study was conducted between July and September 2002 with 1,000 companies surveyed, 502 with and 498 without health benefits.

CONTACT:  Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce, 405-598-8666