Moran Insurance Group
Licensed Insurance Brokers
Call us today
863-270-9820
A small carrier competes with the big fleets for every good driver. The right health benefit does not have to be the most expensive one. It has to work where your drivers live and run.
With at least one W-2 employee who is not an owner or an owner's spouse, a small trucking company can offer a traditional small group plan, a level-funded plan, or an individual coverage HRA (ICHRA). If your drivers live in several states, an ICHRA is often the cleanest fit, because each driver buys an individual plan in their own state and you reimburse premiums tax-free up to an allowance you set.
| Small group | Level-funded | ICHRA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | One plan from one carrier for everyone | Group plan with fixed monthly cost, built-in stop-loss, possible refund in a good year | You set a monthly allowance; employees buy their own individual plans |
| Drivers in many states | Network must reach where each driver lives | Same | Each driver shops in their own state |
| Cost control | Renewal set by the carrier | Good for healthy groups | You fix the budget per employee class |
| Participation rules | Carriers usually require a share of eligible employees to enroll | Similar | No minimum participation |
We work with businesses of 1 to 25 employees, and fleets that size are the sweet spot for all three. More detail in our guides to ICHRA and level-funded plans.
Owner-operators leased to you are independent contractors, not employees, so they generally cannot be put on your employee group plan or your ICHRA. Treating them like employees for benefits can also muddy their contractor status. What you can do:
A traditional group plan is built on one carrier's network in your home state. If your drivers live in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, some of them may end up with a network that is thin where their families actually see doctors. With an ICHRA:
An ICHRA turns health benefits into a number you choose. Here is the arithmetic for an example fleet, before any taxes or plan prices:
| W-2 drivers and staff | 8 |
| Monthly allowance you set per employee | $500 |
| Most the company can spend in a month | $4,000 |
| Most the company can spend in a year | $48,000, deductible as a business expense |
Each employee buys an individual plan in their own state, and you reimburse actual premiums up to the allowance, so the true cost can come in under the maximum. The allowance figures here are an example, not a recommendation: we will help you set one that fits your budget, passes the affordability test you need, and compares fairly against a small group or level-funded quote.
Generally yes, if that employee is a W-2 employee who is not an owner or an owner's spouse. A business of only owners and spouses does not qualify for small group coverage.
Generally no. Independent contractors are not employees, so they are not eligible for employee group plans or an ICHRA.
Often, yes. Each employee buys an individual plan in their own state and you reimburse premiums tax-free up to an allowance you set by employee class.
Checked October 14, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm before you act.
Tell us how many W-2 employees you have and where they live. We will compare group, level-funded and ICHRA side by side.
Get a Fleet Benefits Comparison → Or call 863-270-9820, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm ET