group health insurance

What is group health insurance?

Group health insurance is coverage through an employer or other entity that offers coverage to all eligible individuals in the group. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, group health insurance coverage was more regulated than individual health insurance, although many of the law’s provisions apply to both the individual and group markets.

Group health insurance includes both small groups and large groups, which have different regulations. In most states, small group means up to 50 employees, although there are four states that define “small group” as up to 100 employees. If an employer has more employees than the state’s definition of small group, the plan is considered a large group plan.