Employee Benefits Broker

Who We Work With

• Businesses offering a group health plan for the first time
• Companies facing a renewal increase who want the market shopped
• California-based employers with remote staff in other states
• Growing teams that need help with ACA compliance and reporting

What we do

• Group health insurance: medical plans from major California carriers, Covered California for Small Business and CalChoice
• Dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• ICHRA setup: a tax-advantaged way to reimburse employees for individual health insurance
• ACA compliance and reporting
• Section 125, HSA and FSA setup
• COBRA, open enrollment and year-round employee support

How it works

• Discovery call. We learn about your team, your budget and your current plan.
• Market comparison. We quote and compare options across carriers and exchanges.
• Recommendation. We give you a clear side-by-side summary and our recommendation.
• Enrollment. We run open enrollment and walk your employees through their choices.
• Year-round support. We handle claims, billing and changes, and benchmark your plan at every renewal.

Why Bridgewater?

• Independent. We work for you, not for one carrier.
• Dedicated advisor. You get the same person every time, not a call center.
• Support for employees too. Your staff can call us directly with questions.
• Licensed California agency. CA License #6011420.

Frequently asked questions

• Does using a broker cost more? In most cases, no. California small-group premiums are the same whether you buy direct or through a broker, and we’re paid by the carrier.
• What is an ICHRA? An Individual Coverage HRA lets an employer give employees a set monthly allowance, tax-free, to buy their own individual health insurance. Allowances can vary by employee class.
• Can you cover employees outside California? Yes. We help California-based employers cover out-of-state staff through multi-state carrier networks or an ICHRA.
• When should we start shopping our renewal? Ideally 60–90 days before your renewal date. That leaves time to compare options and enroll employees.