Healthcare Options for Small Business Owners in Albuquerque (& How Pink Mountain Medicine Can Be a Great Option)

Quick Answer 

Small businesses have several ways to support employee healthcare, including group health insurance, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, and Direct Primary Care. The best approach depends on your team, budget, and the type of healthcare access you want to offer. 

Providing healthcare benefits for your employees can feel like one more big decision on an already full plate. As a local business ourselves, we know how important it is to take care of the people who help keep your business moving. The good news is that there are several ways to approach healthcare for small businesses in Albuquerque, depending on what works best for your business. 

The Challenge of Finding Healthcare for Small Businesses in Albuquerque 

Small businesses often have different resources and priorities. With fewer people to spread costs and administrative responsibilities across, choosing a healthcare benefit can require careful consideration. 

Small business owners may need to think about: 

• Aligning healthcare expenses with other business costs. 

• Supporting different healthcare needs across a small team. 

• Managing benefits without a large HR department. 

• Making sure employees have practical access to medical care. 

Considering these factors can help you evaluate your healthcare options and determine what is right for your team. 

Do Small Businesses Have to Provide Health Insurance to Employees? 

Generally, employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, on average during the previous calendar year are not subject to the Affordable Care Act’s employer shared responsibility requirements. However, employers can still choose to offer health insurance or other healthcare benefits. The rules vary depending on the benefit and business structure, so it's helpful to review your options with a qualified benefits, tax, or insurance professional. 

What Healthcare Options Are Available for Small Businesses in Albuquerque? 

Traditional Group Health Insurance 

Group health insurance is an employer-sponsored insurance plan that provides coverage to eligible employees and, depending on the plan, may also cover their dependents. Small employers can explore coverage through private insurers or, if eligible, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). 

Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) 

An HRA allows an employer to reimburse employees for certain qualified healthcare expenses under specific rules. One option is a Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), which is generally available to eligible small employers that do not offer a group health plan. 

Direct Primary Care 

Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a membership-based healthcare model focused on primary care rather than insurance coverage. Employers can offer DPC memberships as a benefit, giving employees access to primary care through a predictable monthly structure. 

How Direct Primary Care Works at Pink Mountain Medicine 

At Pink Mountain Medicine, our Business Care Plans are designed for small, medium, and large organizations. Employers can provide their teams with unlimited primary care visits, preventive services, and follow-up care through a predictable monthly structure. This approach supports employee wellness while helping employers manage healthcare costs and reduce missed workdays. 

Predictable Primary Care Costs 

Instead of paying each time an employee needs primary care, our Business Care Plans use a set monthly membership with no additional per-visit fees for included care. This can make primary care expenses easier for employers to anticipate. 

Easier Access to Routine Care 

Employees receive unlimited primary care visits through their membership. Consistent access to care makes it easier to address concerns as they arise rather than putting off routine care. 

More Time During Appointments 

Longer appointments give employees more time to talk through concerns and ask questions without feeling rushed. They can also establish care with a consistent provider who becomes familiar with their health needs over time. 

Offering a meaningful healthcare benefit doesn't have to mean recreating what a much larger company offers. Direct Primary Care gives businesses another way to support their employees' healthcare while keeping the approach straightforward and manageable. Explore our Business Care Plans to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can employees have Direct Primary Care and health insurance at the same time? 

Yes. An employee can have a Direct Primary Care membership while maintaining health insurance for needs outside the membership, such as hospital care and specialist services. 

Can part-time employees receive healthcare benefits from a small business? 

Potentially, but it depends on the type of benefit you offer and its specific rules. For example, you may choose to offer SHOP coverage to part-time employees, certain part-time employees may be excluded from a QSEHRA, and you may also be able to offer Direct Primary Care memberships to part-time employees depending on your arrangement with the DPC practice. 

Is Direct Primary Care worth it for a small business with only a few employees? 

It can be a practical option for businesses that want to give a small team more direct access to primary care without building a complicated benefits program. The value depends on your budget, employees' needs, and how DPC fits alongside any other coverage you offer. 

Is Direct Primary Care a replacement for employee health insurance? 

No. Direct Primary Care covers primary care provided through the membership, but it is not health insurance and does not replace coverage for expenses such as hospitalization, emergency care, or most specialist services. 

A Simpler Way to Support Your Team's Healthcare 

Small businesses don't all need the same healthcare strategy. The goal is to find an approach that fits your budget and your team while giving employees meaningful access to the support they need. 

Our Business Care Plans offer Albuquerque employers a straightforward way to provide direct access to primary care. If you're considering a healthcare benefit for your team, contact us to learn more about how they can work for your business.

Key Takeaways 

• Small businesses have several options for supporting employee healthcare. 

• Employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalents, generally aren't subject to the ACA's employer shared responsibility requirements. 

• Group insurance, HRAs, and Direct Primary Care serve different purposes. 

• Direct Primary Care provides access to primary care but is not health insurance. 

• Pink Mountain Medicine's Business Care Plans offer Albuquerque businesses straightforward access to primary care for their teams.