Boost employee choice
Employees can select available health and dental plans that better match their providers, coverage needs, and budget.
Covered California for Small Business
Compare employee plan choices, understand your contribution options, and get help enrolling your team.
CCSB Carrier Partners
Covered California small-business broker
More choice for employees. One place to manage it.
Covered California for Small Business, or CCSB, helps eligible employers offer health and dental choices while keeping enrollment, billing, and renewals organized through one program.
Skyline Benefit helps you compare the choices, plan employer contributions, and coordinate enrollment and renewals. Start with a conversation about your team and budget.
100Or fewer FTEs
4Metal levels
1Consolidated bill
Why employers consider CCSB
Choice, cost control, and simpler administration.
Control plan costs
Set an employer contribution strategy, compare price points, and determine whether the business may qualify for financial help.
Streamline management
Use one consolidated monthly bill and the MyCCSB portal to manage enrollment, renewals, plan changes, and employee information.
Health and dental options
Build around the coverage levels your team needs.
CCSB health plans span Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Employers can shape the offering while employees compare available carriers, networks, benefits, and price points.
Dental plans can also be offered so employees may select coverage for themselves and eligible dependents.
View official health and dental plan informationEligibility snapshot
Does the business meet the starting requirements?
100 or fewerFull-time-equivalent employees
At least oneW-2 employee who is neither an owner nor an owner’s spouse
A majorityOf eligible employees live in California
What if too few employees want to enroll?
Review valid waivers and contribution rules before assuming the group cannot enroll. CCSB’s 2026 guide describes a November 15–December 15 annual window for otherwise eligible employers that do not meet participation or contribution minimums, for January 1 coverage.
This is CCSB-specific guidance, not a rule for every carrier. Confirm the applicable enrollment year, submission deadline, and effective date before relying on this window.
Verify CCSB participation and enrollment rules
Source check: September 2026. Verify current requirements before acting.
Potential credit
Up to 50%
Of eligible premium contributions for qualifying for-profit employers
Financial help available through CCSB
A tax credit may lower the cost of offering coverage.
The federal small-business health care tax credit is available only through CCSB for eligible California employers. The maximum is currently 50% for for-profit employers and 35% for tax-exempt employers, generally for two consecutive tax years.
- Fewer than 25 full-time-equivalent employees
- Average employee wages within the current federal limit
- At least 50% of employee coverage paid by the employer
Tax-credit rules and wage limits can change. A qualified tax professional should confirm eligibility.
Explore official financial-help informationHow Skyline Benefit helps
From eligibility check to ongoing service.
We help organize the quote, explain the choices, coordinate enrollment, and support the employer after coverage begins.
Talk with a CCSB broker- 01Check eligibility
Review FTE count, W-2 status, employee locations, participation, and timing.
- 02Prepare the quote
Collect the census, contribution goals, current coverage, providers, and dental needs.
- 03Enroll the group
Guide employer and employee applications, documents, deadlines, and plan decisions.
- 04Manage and renew
Assist with MyCCSB, billing, employee changes, renewals, and carrier follow-up.
FAQ
Covered California for Small Business questions
What is Covered California for Small Business?
Covered California for Small Business, often shortened to CCSB, is California’s small-business health and dental insurance marketplace. It was formerly known as the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP.
What businesses may qualify for CCSB?
CCSB requires 100 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees and at least one W-2 employee who is neither an owner nor an owner’s spouse. Confirm the California location, employee eligibility, participation, contribution, and enrollment requirements in the current program rules.
Can employees choose different health or dental plans?
Yes. CCSB is designed to let employees compare and select from available health and dental options while the employer manages the group through one program.
When can a business enroll?
Covered California for Small Business offers year-round enrollment. Application and effective-date deadlines still apply.
Can a small business receive a health care tax credit?
Some employers purchasing through CCSB may qualify for a federal small-business health care tax credit. The official program currently describes credits of up to 50% of eligible premium contributions for for-profit employers and 35% for tax-exempt employers, generally for two consecutive tax years. A tax professional should confirm eligibility.
How can a CCSB broker help?
A broker can help confirm eligibility, organize the census and employer documents, compare health and dental options, model employer contributions, guide enrollment, and support the group after coverage begins.
Ready for a group quote?
Choose how to complete your census.
Use our guided online form, or complete the Excel template and upload it securely. Both options give us the information needed to prepare your group quote.
Only exploring? Start with an online rate comparison.
Option 1 · Recommended
Complete it online
Enter your company and employee information in one guided form. Nothing to download or upload.
Start Online Census
Option 2 · Spreadsheet
Complete it offline
Prefer Excel? Download the template, complete it at your convenience, then return to upload it securely.
Please do not send census information through regular email. Use the online form or secure upload portal above.
Ready to compare group health?
Review Covered California Small Business options.
Share a few business details and a licensed Skyline Benefit advisor will follow up within one business day.
- Carrier and program comparisons
- Employer contribution and payroll-cost review
- Enrollment, renewal, and ongoing support
Review Covered California Small Business options.
For California employers with 1–100 employees.