Your group health renewal went up. Get a second opinion before you sign.
Small-group carriers asked for a median 14% increase for 2027. Send us your renewal and a licensed advisor will shop it against other carriers, level-funded plans and ICHRA, then show you the options side by side before your deadline.
- Free, no obligation. Carriers pay us, not you. If your renewal is the best deal, we'll say so.
- Built for 2 to 50 employees, including trucking companies, contractors, restaurants and offices.
- We check your team's doctors before recommending any change.
- English y Español.
Reviewed by Bradley Vilsaint, licensed health insurance advisor (NPN 22116298). Updated October 16, 2026. Prefer to talk? (954) 825-1009
Got it. Your review is started.
An advisor will reach out today during business hours. To speed things up, reply to our email with a copy of your renewal letter, or send it to info@vshealthbenefits.com.
The fastest way to get firm quotes is the employee census. It takes about five minutes.
Fill out the census →How the renewal review works
Send us the renewal
The carrier's renewal letter, or just your current and new monthly premium. Add your headcount and ZIP.
We shop it
We price the same benefits with other carriers and model level-funded, ICHRA and plan-design alternatives using a short employee census.
You pick, before the deadline
You get a side-by-side of cost, deductibles and networks. Keep your renewal, adjust it, or switch. We handle the paperwork.
Six ways small employers cut a renewal increase
No single move fits every group. These are the levers we test against your renewal, in roughly the order they tend to matter.
1. Shop the same plan with other carriers
Carriers price the same group very differently. A like-for-like comparison is the baseline for every review.
2. Move to a level-funded plan
Healthier groups can pay a fixed monthly cost and may get money back in a low-claims year. How level funding works.
3. Switch to an ICHRA
You set a fixed monthly allowance and employees buy their own plan. Your cost stops moving with the group's renewal. ICHRA for small businesses.
4. Change the plan design
A higher deductible, an HSA-eligible plan, or a narrower network can cut premiums while keeping the doctors your team uses.
5. Rework your contribution
Pay a fixed share of a base plan and let employees buy up. You keep the benefit while capping what you spend.
6. Claim the small business tax credit
Employers with fewer than 25 lower-wage employees may qualify for a federal credit. Check eligibility.
Key dates for a January 1 renewal
| When | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | Most carriers send January 1 renewal letters 30 to 60 days ahead. | Send us the renewal as soon as it arrives. More time means more options. |
| November 1 | Individual open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov. | Matters if you are weighing an ICHRA, since employees then buy individual plans. |
| November 15 – December 15 | Federal small-group window: carriers must accept groups that can't meet participation or contribution minimums. | Groups with low enrollment or a small employer contribution should apply in this window. |
| Early to mid December | Carriers typically want new-group applications one to three weeks before the effective date. | Have your decision made and the census in by early December. |
| January 1, 2027 | New or renewed coverage starts. | We confirm ID cards and enrollment for every employee. |
Renewal reviews by industry
Industries with high turnover, field crews or drivers spread across states have their own renewal problems. Start with yours:
Renewal questions
Is a double-digit 2027 renewal increase normal?
Unfortunately, yes. KFF's review of 2027 small-group rate filings found a median requested increase of 14%, driven by hospital and drug prices, specialty drugs and GLP-1 use. In Florida, small-group filings ranged from about 8% to 15.5%. Your own renewal also moves with your group's age and claims, so it can land above or below those figures.
Can I switch group health carriers at renewal?
Yes. Small group plans can start on the first of any month, so your renewal date is the natural time to move. You can switch carriers, change plan designs, or move to a level-funded plan or an ICHRA, as long as the new plan is in place before the old one ends.
What if we can't meet the carrier's participation or contribution rules?
Federal rules give small employers a window from November 15 to December 15 each year when carriers must accept a group even if it can't meet their minimum participation or employer-contribution requirements. Coverage bought in that window starts January 1.
Does a renewal review cost anything?
No. Carriers pay us when a plan is placed, so the review, the comparison and the paperwork cost your business nothing. If your current renewal turns out to be the best option, we'll tell you.
What do you need from me?
Your renewal letter, or just the current and new monthly premium, plus your headcount and ZIP code. To get firm quotes from other carriers we'll then need a short employee census (ages, ZIP codes and who is covered), which we send as a simple online form.
Will my employees lose their doctors if we switch?
Not if we check first. We compare provider networks before recommending a change, and flag any doctors or hospitals your team uses that a new plan would not cover.
Don't auto-renew a 15% increase.
A review costs nothing and usually takes a day once we have your census.
Start my renewal review Call (954) 825-1009Sources: KFF analysis of 2027 small-group rate filings, via Healthcare Finance News (Aug 11, 2026); Florida 2027 preliminary rate filings, ACASignups (updated Sept 24, 2026); small-group participation and contribution window: 45 CFR 147.104(b)(1). Florida figures are proposed rates and unweighted averages; final approved rates may differ. VS Health Benefits is a licensed independent agency and is not affiliated with HealthCare.gov, CMS or any government agency. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice.