How Wayne County and HealthChoice launch Waynetrepreneurs, an initiative to spur small business growth and employee access to health coverage?
Wayne County government has announced an innovative initiative, Waynetrepreneurs, in partnership with HealthChoice. This innovative program is designed to support small businesses and their employees by addressing the high cost of health insurance. The goal of the initiative is to ease financial burdens, promote economic development, and prioritize the health and well-being of employees of Wayne County small businesses.
In partnership with Wayne County, the HealthChoice program offers cost-effective, high-quality health insurance at no additional cost to small businesses in Wayne and Oakland counties. Under this program, new small business owners and their employees receive three months of free HealthChoice coverage.
New businesses established in Wayne County after January 1, 2024 that employ a minimum of two full-time employees and a maximum of 50 employees may enroll in the program. Both the business and its employees must not have been previously enrolled in HealthChoice.
Warren S. Evans, Wayne County Executive, strongly supports the idea that small businesses play a critical role in our community by stimulating economic growth and creating jobs for local residents.
"Nationwide, 44% of businesses do not offer health insurance to their employees. The Waynetrepreneurs initiative will provide critical support for new small businesses in Wayne County to provide health insurance to their employees during the start-up phase," said Evans.
Abdul El-Sayed, director of HHVS, emphasizes that new small businesses face significant challenges in providing health services to their employees.
"Waynetrepeneurs will offer a pathway to affordable health care for new small business owners and their employees, reducing the number of uninsured in our county and improving health and wellness - all with the support of our business climate," El-Sayed said.
Alisha Bell, chair of the Wayne County Commission, emphasized that small business owners are facing the financial burden of providing health insurance for their employees. She expressed enthusiasm for the new program, highlighting its potential to support economic development and the well-being of the county's workforce.
HealthChoice Executive Director Christopher Johnson emphasized the vital role that small businesses play in the community, serving as a reliable catalyst for local economic growth.
"HealthChoice offers an incredibly beneficial environment for small businesses in our county, and the Waynetrepeneurs program will extend that environment to new businesses and their employees," Johnson said.
Dena Harris, visionary leader and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Faith Homebuyers, has trusted Healthchoice for years to provide comprehensive health benefits for her dedicated team members at her thriving small business.
For more than two decades, Harris has dedicated herself to helping first-time homebuyers with their housing needs while prioritizing the best health care options for her team.
"As we've grown, our revenue has increased: the first year our budget was about $200,000, and this year our budget should be about $4 million, and we're still working at Healthchoice," Harris says.
Alisha Bell, chair of the Wayne County Commission, noted that she and her team are fortunate to have contracts with Detroit Medical Center and recently signed with Corwell Health. As a result, people in the program receive exceptional health insurance at the hospitals and networks available to them.
"The cost is certainly reasonable for one person - $250 for the employee and $250 for the employer, and you can't get that price anywhere else, and you have all the coverage you can't get. So I'm proud of the longevity of this program," Bell said.
"This new program is amazing for any business that opened this year and the fact that they will have three months of health insurance for their employees is great. Small businesses just starting out are already struggling, but you need to know that you won't have a high turnover rate because your employees are looking for the next best job. That's why we can provide three months of free health care for the employer and the employee. It makes a difference."