Small businesses in Grapevine can access group healthcare coverage through a plan offered by the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce.

The Texas Chamber Health Plan, built in partnership with Triad Benefits, targets companies with one to 99 employees. Plans run primarily through Cigna's PPO network, with auxiliary coverage through MetLife, according to the Grapevine economic development office. The chamber began with a soft rollout for members and is promoting the option publicly.

RaDonna Hessel, CEO of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber spent years searching for a small-business insurance program. "We found a group plan that is mostly through Cigna with auxiliary plans through MetLife, and it's been very successful so far for the companies using it," she said.

The city of Grapevine said the vast majority of businesses in the city have fewer than a dozen employees. The chamber said the program can help those companies attract and retain workers by offering healthcare benefits.

Six plan options are available, each with different coverage levels and deductibles. There is no open enrollment window. Companies can apply any time, and coverage effective dates fall on the first of the month. Getting a quote is free, though acceptance is not guaranteed.

Businesses must cover at least 50% of the plan's cost for their employees. Not all employees need to enroll. The chamber's program page lists potential premium savings of 15% to 25%, and Hessel said the average annual rate increase is only 5%.

Groups with fewer than 12 enrolled employees complete underwriting through a secure online application portal. Larger groups submit a dependent-level census. Rates are based on age, gender and health history, with healthier groups qualifying for lower rate tiers.

There is one catch: business owners must be members of a chamber of commerce to enroll, though not necessarily the Grapevine Chamber. The plan is open to Texas business owners outside Grapevine city limits, too.

Grapevine Chamber membership starts at $345 a year for businesses with 10 or fewer employees and scales up with company size. The chamber has about 1,000 member businesses. The chamber is preparing Zoom meetings with other chambers to promote the plan, according to the economic development office.

The program does not cover dental or vision benefits. Those are available separately through a partnership with Affinity Benefits.

Plans lock in for 12 months once a business enrolls. Owners interested in a quote can visit the Grapevine Chamber website.