Family-owned since 1982, based in Santee. CBIS sets up group health, dental, vision, life, disability and Section 125 plans for California employers, from the owner plus 1 employee to groups of about 250, with a named CBIS contact for each account.
Group benefits help employers attract and keep good people, and they give employees access to coverage through work. We compare carriers, explain the options, and support your team from setup through renewal.
As an independent group benefits broker, CBIS compares group health plans and other employee benefits across carriers.
Book a free call with our benefits team (opens in new tab) or Get a benefits quote.
Group size rules
Most carriers group employers by size. In California, small group starts at the owner plus 1 employee and goes up to 100 employees. Larger groups are rated differently, and CBIS works with groups of up to about 250 employees. Carriers also set participation and contribution rules, and many plans need a minimum number of enrolled employees. We check each carrier’s rules against your headcount, so you know which plans are open to you before you start. For smaller teams, see our page on small business health insurance in San Diego.
Plan types CBIS offers
- Group medical: HMO, PPO, and EPO. HMOs usually use a set network and a primary care doctor. PPOs allow care in and out of network. EPOs use a network without referrals for most care.
- Group dental. Preventive, basic, and major dental care. Learn about group dental.
- Group vision. Eye exams, glasses, and contacts.
- Group life and AD&D. Employer-paid or voluntary life coverage with accidental death and dismemberment. Our guide to group life insurance for small business explains how basic and buy-up coverage work.
- Disability. Short-term and long-term disability to replace part of an employee’s paycheck. Learn about disability.
- Voluntary benefits. Employee-paid accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans. Learn about voluntary benefits.
- HSA, FSA, and HRA. Tax-advantaged accounts that help employees pay out-of-pocket costs. See What is an HSA? and What is an FSA?
- Funding options. Fully insured plans, level-funded and self-funded plans, and ICHRA (an individual coverage HRA, where the employer reimburses employees for individual health plans). Learn how an ICHRA works for San Diego employers. Which one fits depends on your group size, budget, and how much cost risk you want to carry.
- COBRA. Rules that let employees keep group health coverage for a time after leaving. Federal COBRA applies to employers with 20 or more employees. For groups of 2 to 19, Cal-COBRA applies, and the carrier usually handles it. CBIS helps with COBRA notices.
Carriers CBIS works with
A few of the insurance companies and health plans we work with:
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Cigna
- Covered California for Small Business
- EyeMed
- Health Net
- Kaiser Permanente
- MediExcelCross-border medical plan with care in Baja California, Mexico
- Sharp Health Plan
- SIMNSACross-border medical plan with care in Baja California, Mexico
- Sutter Health Plus
- UnitedHealthcare
- VSP
- Western Health Advantage
Local networks matter
For San Diego employers, the doctor and hospital network is often the first question employees ask. We compare plans from carriers such as Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, Sharp Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare, and check how each network covers the providers your team uses, including large systems like Scripps and Sharp.
Why San Diego employers choose CBIS
- Family-owned since 1982. CBIS works from one office in Santee and has never been sold to a larger firm.
- Independent comparison. We’re independent, so we compare plans across insurance companies instead of selling one company’s plans.
- Employee Navigator enrollment. We offer Employee Navigator to manage open enrollment, new hires, and terminations, and enrollment materials are available in Spanish. If your group uses Ease now, here’s what the move from Ease to Employee Navigator means for San Diego employers. Learn about benefits administration.
- Cross-border medical plans. For teams that live or work on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border, we offer group plans from SIMNSA and MediExcel. Learn about cross-border medical plans.
- A named person to call. Each account has a named CBIS contact who handles carrier contacts and enrollment data, so HR knows who to call or text.
- Renewal comparisons. At each renewal, we lay out your current plan next to other options so you can compare them side by side.
- Second opinions and broker changes. We can review your renewal as a second opinion, or take over as your broker of record.
- Licensed and accountable. CA Agency Lic. #0F09685. BBB Accredited, A+ Rating.
How it works
- Tell us about your team. Headcount, where employees live, current coverage, and your budget.
- We compare carriers and plans. You see options side by side, including networks and employer contribution rules.
- Set up and enroll. We help with applications and employee meetings by phone or video, then set up your plans in Employee Navigator so employees can enroll online.
- Ongoing support. We help with new hires, changes, claims questions, and each renewal.
What to have ready for a quote
- How many employees you have and the ZIP codes where they live
- Your current plan summaries and renewal notice, if you have coverage now
- How much you want to pay toward employee and dependent coverage
- The date you want coverage to start
Please don’t email Social Security numbers or employee health details. Your CBIS agent will tell you what else is needed and how to send it.
What happens next
A licensed CBIS agent reviews your details, asks any follow-up questions, and then walks you through the options side by side. Group coverage usually starts on the 1st of a month.
Group benefits questions
How many employees do I need for a group plan?
In California, small group starts at the owner plus 1 employee and goes up to 100 employees. CBIS works with groups of up to about 250 employees. Rules for dental, vision, life, and voluntary plans vary by carrier. We’ll check which carriers fit your headcount.
How much does the employer have to contribute?
For medical plans, many carriers require the employer to pay at least 50% of the employee-only premium and require a minimum share of eligible employees to enroll. We explain each carrier’s requirements before you choose.
How does CBIS get paid for group benefits?
In many cases, the insurance company pays the broker a commission that is built into the premium. Payment can differ by product, and we explain how it works for your plan up front. See how we get paid.
When should an employer start planning open enrollment?
Start about 60 to 90 days before your plan renewal or start date. That leaves time to compare carriers, review networks with your team, and set up enrollment.
Can an employer cover employees who live outside San Diego or work remotely?
Often, yes, for employees who live in California. CBIS is licensed in California only, so employees who live in other states may need a plan or broker licensed there. Networks and eligibility depend on the carrier and plan, so we check where your employees live before recommending a plan. For employees who live or work across the U.S.–Mexico border, we offer cross-border medical plans.
Does CBIS help with enrollment and new hires?
Yes. We offer Employee Navigator, an online benefits administration system, to manage open enrollment, new hires, and terminations for many of the groups we serve.
When can group coverage start?
Group coverage usually starts on the 1st of a month. How soon depends on each carrier’s deadlines for applications and enrollment, so it helps to start early.
What if we can’t meet the participation or contribution rules?
Each year from November 15 to December 15, small-group carriers have to accept groups that don’t meet their usual participation or employer contribution minimums. Coverage bought in that window generally starts January 1.
Is there a tax credit for small employers?
Some small employers can get the federal Small Business Health Care Tax Credit when they buy coverage through Covered California for Small Business. It is generally for employers with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees who pay average wages under an IRS limit and pay at least half of employee-only premiums. Check with your CPA or tax professional about whether your business qualifies.
Does prescription drug coverage differ by carrier?
Yes. Each carrier and plan has its own drug list, called a formulary, and its own costs and approval rules. If employees take specific medicines, tell us which ones, and we’ll compare how each plan you’re considering covers them.
Can CBIS review our renewal or take over as our broker?
Yes. CBIS can review your renewal and compare it with other plans as a second opinion. If you decide to switch, a broker-of-record letter makes CBIS your broker. Changing brokers doesn’t change your plan or carrier by itself.
Get a group benefits quote
Call or text (858) 283-7575, book a free call (opens in new tab), or Get a benefits quote.