Washington Business Spring 2019 | Washington Business | Page 48

business backgrounder | health
“People love our customer service. We take care of them.”
- Debra Brown, president of Forterra, AWB’s member services subsidiary
By bringing thousands of AWB members into a large pool,
HealthChoice helps the very smallest businesses provide top-
notch health insurance at a competitive price.
Altogether, 2,600 AWB members provide health insurance
to 27,000 employees and their dependents across the state
through HealthChoice.
Anthony Rosa, a SureShot employee, is one of them.
Rosa said he values the health care coverage provided by
his employer, thanks to HealthChoice.
“I have two kids and a wife at home,” Rosa said. “It’s a sense
of relief to know that if somebody gets hurt in my family, that
it’s not going to be a huge setback. The benefits are just as
good or better than other places that I’ve worked. The out-
of-pocket is low. Your deductibles are low. Your co-pays are
low. All of that is a lot cheaper with AWB.”
Bipartisan legislation passed about 25 years ago created
association health plans, and AWB has been offering
affordable, high-quality benefits through HealthChoice to
members since 1996. A full suite of ancillary benefits can also
be offered on the same bill, such as dental, vision, life, short-
term and long-term disability.
“We bring economies of scale to the small employer,” said
Debra Brown, president of Forterra, AWB’s member services
subsidiary.
More than 40 percent of the businesses that choose
HealthChoice were previously not offering health insurance.
The plans are competitively priced and popular. In 2018, 95
percent of customers renewed their plans.
48 association of washington business
Fulcrum Environmental Consulting, which has
locations in Yakima and Spokane, turns to HealthChoice
to insure its 17 employees. The company ’s niche
is creating healthy environments, including cleanup of
contaminants and improving indoor air quality. As an
employer, it works to support the health of its employees,
including support for outdoor activities and fitness. Its
in-house wellness program is known as “Fulcrum Life,” and
HealthChoice fits right in to the company’s overall goals.
“Being able to provide health insurance to our employees is
something we take a lot of pride in,” said Peggy Williamson,
project manager for Fulcrum Environmental Services.
AWB’s HealthChoice provides meaningful support to small
businesses through health insurance, Williamson said — from
explanatory handouts for employees to giving employers
the confidence that the product will meet regulatory
requirements.
“It’s important that we have a good benefits program,
and something like AWB HealthChoice gives us that basis,”
she said. “Fulcrum’s life is a healthy choice, so AWB’s
HealthChoice is a natural for us.”
HealthChoice plans are designed to fit the needs of
employers, particularly small businesses, Brown said. The
average size of a HealthChoice customer is 7.5 employees.
AWB handles the administration, which leaves employers free
to run their businesses.
“People love our customer service,” Brown said. “We take
care of them.”
Another satisfied HealthChoice customer is Elliott Bay
Marina. Founded in 1991 in Seattle, Elliott Bay Marina is the
largest privately-owned marina on the West Coast with 1,250