· Insurance companies must offer small employers a uniform basic health plan. Standardization helps you compare differences in cost and coverage. Carriers can also offer non-standardized plans.

· The Oregon Insurance Division publishes a free brochure describing small employer basic and standard health plans. The brochure also lists the names and numbers of insurance companies selling these plans to small employers and describes the premiums charged. For more information please see the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services: Insurance Division at http://www.oregoninsurance.org/docs/serff/gp_health_smgphealth.html.