Employer Health Benefits · Nationwide
MEC plans that satisfy the ACA employer mandate for hourly, seasonal, part-time, and full-time W-2 workforces — nationwide.
The exposure
Employers with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees are subject to the ACA employer mandate. Failing to offer minimum essential coverage to substantially all full-time employees can trigger significant per-employee IRS penalties — assessed annually, not once.
Estimated ACA penalty
${{PENALTY_PER_EMPLOYEE}}
per full-time employee, per year
Assessed under IRC §4980H(a) for failure to offer minimum essential coverage.
eBenefits MEC plan
${{MEC_COST_PEPM}}/ employee / month
starting price, per participating employee
A qualifying MEC plan satisfies the ACA's minimum essential coverage requirement.
Figures are illustrative and vary by employer, workforce composition, and current-year IRS guidance.
Plans
Four coverage frameworks, layerable into a benefits design that matches your compliance obligations and your budget.
ACA-compliant preventive coverage
Preventive and wellness care, prescription drug benefits, telemedicine, and behavioral health. Built for seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees nationwide.
Add fixed-benefit indemnity
Add Group Limited Indemnity coverage, underwritten by Globe Life, to any MEC plan. Pays a fixed benefit amount for a set number of days per year.
Minimum Value Plan alternative
A cost-conscious alternative to major medical that helps employers address ACA Penalty B exposure while offering meaningful benefits.
Cigna nationwide network
Comprehensive PPO coverage on the Cigna network. Nationwide access, flexible benefits, robust plan design.
Ancillary benefits — dental, vision, short-term disability, critical illness, and outpatient therapy — can be added to any plan.
Who this is for
Staffing
Restaurants & food service
Hospitality
Senior care & home health
Janitorial & facilities
Security
Logistics & warehousing
Agriculture
How it works
Step 01
Headcount, hours, and basic employee data. We handle the rest of the intake — no long questionnaires.
Step 02
We model your compliance exposure and quote plan designs against it. You see the trade-offs on one page.
Step 03
We manage enrollment, employee communications, and ongoing plan administration — nationwide.
eBenefits MEC plans satisfy ACA Penalty A requirements and the individual mandates in California, DC, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
FAQ
If your question isn't here, request a quote and we'll walk you through it.
A Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) plan is a group health plan that meets the ACA's definition of minimum essential coverage. It focuses on preventive and wellness care, prescription drug benefits, telemedicine, and behavioral health — the categories the ACA requires an employer to offer to satisfy Penalty A of the employer mandate.
Employers with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees are considered Applicable Large Employers under the ACA and must offer minimum essential coverage to substantially all full-time employees, or face IRS penalties. A MEC plan is the most cost-efficient way to close that exposure.
MEC plans cover preventive and wellness services, prescription drug benefits, telemedicine, and behavioral health. Specific benefits vary by tier — Basic, Plus, and Plus Advantage — and can be paired with Group Limited Indemnity, MVP, or PPO coverage for broader protection.
Offering a qualifying MEC plan to substantially all full-time employees satisfies Penalty A under section 4980H(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Pairing MEC with an MVP plan can also address Penalty B (affordability and minimum value) for employees who would otherwise receive a premium tax credit on the exchange.
Yes. Many employers pair a MEC plan for their broader hourly workforce with an MVP or PPO plan for salaried or benefit-eligible staff. We help you design the combination that fits your workforce and your budget.
MEC pricing is quoted per employee per month and depends on workforce composition, plan tier, and any ancillary benefits added. Costs are typically a fraction of major medical premiums. Request a quote and we will model your specific numbers.
Request a quote
Share a few details about your workforce and a licensed benefits advisor will reach out within one business day with plan designs and pricing tailored to your company.