5 Health Insurance Myths Costing Florida Small Businesses Good Hires

By Gaby Fafard, Licensed Health Insurance Advisor · Fort Lauderdale, FL

A lot of what small business owners assume about group health insurance in Florida is outdated, or just wrong. Here are five myths worth clearing up — especially the one that's actually costing businesses good hires.

Myth: "You need 50+ employees to offer it."

Not true. Carriers in Florida offer group plans for teams as small as one or two people. The 50-employee threshold only determines whether you're legally required to offer coverage — not whether you're allowed to.

Myth: "It's not worth it for a small team — employees don't really care."

88% of employers say health benefits are extremely or very important to keeping their workforce (SHRM, 2025). And only 59% of firms with 10-199 workers actually offer coverage (KFF, 2025) — meaning if you do, you're already standing out from roughly 4 in 10 competitors chasing the same hires.

Myth: "You have to wait for open enrollment to get set up, just like individual coverage."

Not with a group plan. Unlike individual marketplace coverage, which is locked to that November–January window, small group plans can typically start any time of year. No need to wait months to get your team covered.

Myth: "You need every employee to sign up, or the whole plan falls apart."

Depends on the plan. Some carriers do require a minimum participation rate among eligible employees. But others are flexible enough that even if just 1 out of 10 employees wants coverage, it's still possible — it just comes down to which type of plan you're looking at.

Myth: "Every plan requires you to cover a set percentage of the premium."

Depends on the plan. Some carriers do require a minimum employer contribution — often around half of the employee-only premium — but others are fully flexible, letting you contribute whatever fits your budget.

The businesses that get this right aren't necessarily the biggest ones — they're the ones that found out how it actually works instead of assuming.