ACA Plans:

• Guaranteed coverage with essential benefits
  
  

• Potential subsidies for lower-income buyers
  
  

• Often high premiums and steep deductibles, meaning you pay a lot before coverage kicks in

Non-ACA Plans:

• Lower monthly premiums—sometimes 30% to 50% less than ACA plans
  
  

• Flexible plan designs with broad provider networks
  
  

• Lower out-of-pocket costs for routine care and prescriptions
  
  

• Available year-round with no medical underwriting (or medically underwritten options for healthier individuals)
  
  

• Options like fixed indemnity or benefits plans that pay cash benefits directly to you for covered services
  
  

⚠️ Bottom line: For healthy individuals without subsidies, non-ACA plans can provide stronger coverage at a fraction of the cost of marketplace plans.

Visual Comparison: ACA vs. Non-ACA Plans for Self-Employed

The Traditional Model Is Broken

The old approach to health benefits, “one-size-fits-all group plans”, no longer meet the needs of today’s diverse workforce.

They’re rigid, expensive, and often leave you with:

• Rising costs – Employers often overpay for limited coverage

• Limited choices – Employees can’t choose plans that fit their unique situations

• Poor value – Many employees are underinsured or face high out-of-pocket costs

A Modern, Flexible Solution That Works

We bring you a better alternative: a reimbursement-based model (ICHRA) that puts affordability, flexibility, and choice at the center.

Here’s how it works:

• You set a monthly budget that fits your business

• Employees choose their own plans based on their individual needs, budget, and preferences

• Everyone gets what works best for them — without overpaying

💡 It’s smarter, simpler, and built for the way people work and live today.

ICHRA: A Modern, Flexible, and Cost-Smart Solution

With an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA), you can take control of your healthcare budget — while giving your employees more choice and value than ever before.

What Types of Businesses Commonly Use ICHRAs?

ICHRAs are especially popular with:

• Small to midsize businesses (often 5 to 100 employees) looking to reduce health benefit costs
  
  

• Startups and tech companies seeking flexible, employee-friendly benefits
  
  

• Professional services firms (consultants, legal, finance) with diverse workforce needs
  
  

• Trade and contracting businesses wanting to avoid complex group plan management
  
  

• Nonprofits and associations seeking budget predictability and compliance ease

💡 Why Small Businesses Are Making the Switch

Traditional group health insurance is falling short. It's rigid, costly, and often leaves employers paying too much for plans that don’t truly meet their team’s needs. Meanwhile, employees are stuck with limited choices, underwhelming coverage, or premiums they can’t afford.

An ICHRA changes the game — offering a flexible, cost-efficient solution that gives employers control over their benefits budget while empowering employees to choose the coverage that works best for them.

Design Your Health Benefits Program

We make setup fast and intuitive. Our platform walks you through each step — with expert guidance and support.

• Set Your Budget: You decide how much to contribute to each employee's health insurance. Whether it's a few hundred dollars or a more generous monthly amount, you're in full control.

• Choose a Start Date: Because ICHRAs are based on reimbursements, you can launch benefits as early as the 1st of the next month. In some cases, employee coverage can begin same-day.

• Design the Plan: There’s no one-size-fits-all — and that’s a good thing. We help you build a plan aligned with your:

• Budget

• Company goals

• Employee needs

💡 Need inspiration? We’ll show you how similar companies are succeeding. 

• Setup Time: If you have your budget, start date, and employee list ready, setup can be done in minutes. First time offering benefits? We suggest spending a day or two to explore your options with our team.

Introduce Your Employee Benefits Program

You’ve built your plan — now it’s time to share the good news. We help you roll it out smoothly and confidently.

• When to Announce: We’ll help you time your communication based on your start date — and provide templates to make the message clear and engaging.

• Personalized Onboarding: Every employee receives a one-on-one consultation to:

• Assess their needs

• Review available coverage options

• Get help selecting the best plan

• Insurance Shopping Made Easy: Employees can compare plans, costs, and coverage — all in one place. They shop and enroll through our user-friendly platform, with expert guidance throughout.

• What If They Have Questions?: Our 5-Star support team is available via phone, email, or chat. We’re here to make sure employees feel confident and supported every step of the way.

Enjoy your new Health Benefits!

Congratulations — your new health benefits program is live!

• Enrollment Confirmation: We verify each employee’s documentation and confirm their enrollment with you — no chasing paperwork or guessing.

• Reimbursement Made Simple: After employees enroll, we give you a report with their:

• Selected plan

• Monthly premium

• You can process reimbursements easily through your existing payroll system.

• Set Monthly Reimbursement Amounts: You choose how much to reimburse:

• Flat rate for everyone

• Tiered by role, tenure, or performance

• We provide the data — you make the call.

• Adjust for Team Changes: Hiring or offboarding? No problem. You can add or remove employees at any time, and we’ll help you stay compliant.

• Ongoing Employer Support: Our dedicated client success team is here year-round. Whether you need answers, guidance, or a fresh perspective, we’ve got your back.

📞 Ready to Find Your Best Health Coverage?

Whether you’re self-employed or a business owner ready to modernize your benefits, JSR Health Consultants is here to help you cut costs and get the coverage you need.

Contact us today to explore ACA plans, affordable private options, and ICHRA solutions tailored to your unique situation.