SMART PLAN THE ALBANY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFERS ITS MEMBERS A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE
L
IKE MANY BUSINESS MANAGERS, LESLIE MCCLURE DREADED THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. NOT BECAUSE OF THE TASK OF RECONCILING FINANCIAL RECORDS, BUT BECAUSE SHE KNEW SHE WOULD HAVE TO SHARE BAD NEWS ABOUT AN IMPORTANT BENEFIT WITH EMPLOYEES. “Over the last 10 years, it’s been the same story when (group medical insurance) comes up for renewal, which is usually at the end of our fiscal year in December,” she said. “I’m having office meetings, saying, ‘I hate to tell you, but our health insurance is going up in the next year 15-20%. And guess what—we’re going to cut your benefits.’” That changed for McClure, office manager for Hughey & Neuman, when the Albany-based real estate firm joined the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s SMART Plan two years ago. The plan is offered to Albany Area small businesses through their membership in the Albany Area Chamber.
8 MARCH | APRIL 2020
"IT’S A NO-BRAINER," SHE SAID. "IT’S THE BEST THING I’VE HAD IN HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS." The Georgia Chamber teamed with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to administer the plan. It is available to a Georgia business with two to 50 eligible employees if it is a member of the Georgia Chamber or a participating local Chamber. The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce participates, opening the plan to its members. “We’ve had a very good experience with it. It works,” McClure said. “I’m able to offer employees taking advantage of it a better policy for less cost to the company and less out-of-pocket expenses for them.” There’s been an extra benefit for McClure. “It’s a two-year policy, so I’m not having to review it every 12 months, which has been nice,” she said. “I was glad to be able to keep that premium for two years and, for the first time in many years, look at my employees and not have to
