Small businesses in Grapevine and across Texas can now apply for group health insurance through the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce with no enrollment window.

The chamber announced the Texas Chamber Health Plan on Aug. 25, offering Cigna-underwritten coverage to companies with one to 99 employees.

Six plan tiers are available at different coverage levels and deductibles, and the average annual rate increase is 5%, according to the Grapevine Economic Development Department.

"What interested us, along with the cost, is that the average rate increase for the plan is only five percent," said RaDonna Hessel, CEO of the Grapevine Chamber. "It can be a low-cost option for businesses, and doesn't tie them to an enrollment window. A new business that opens this year can jump on the plan."

The year-round enrollment sets the plan apart. Most group health plans lock employers into annual open-enrollment periods, leaving new businesses or those that miss the window without coverage for months. Under this program, a shop that opens in October can sign up in October.

Participating employers must cover at least 50% of the premium cost. Individual employees are not required to enroll if they prefer existing coverage elsewhere.

The plan is open to solopreneurs as well as larger teams. Auxiliary benefits come through MetLife. Acceptance is not guaranteed, but quotes are free and carry no obligation. Health information submitted during the application stays private; the chamber does not have access to applicants' medical data.

Who can enroll

Business owners must belong to any Texas chamber of commerce to qualify. Membership in the Grapevine Chamber specifically is not required, though it starts at $345 per year for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. The chamber itself has no enrollment period, so businesses can join at any time.

The Grapevine Chamber has roughly 1,000 member businesses. Hessel said the chamber had been searching for a small-business insurance solution for several years before landing on this program.

The chamber began with a quiet rollout to existing members before promoting the plan publicly. It is now preparing Zoom sessions with other Texas chambers to expand access statewide, though dates for those meetings have not been announced.

Quotes are free. Businesses interested in applying can do so through the Grapevine Chamber's website.