Published October 2002

Snohomish chamber offers access to health plans
as member benefit

SCBJ Staff

After going about three years without, the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce has added access to insurance programs as a benefit of membership, Manager Pam Osborne said.

The chamber used to have insurance through United Chamber Insurance, Osborne said, but when their services were no longer available, the chamber was left looking for other options.

The search led the group to the Washington Business Association & Chamber of Commerce Trust, a program that enables small companies to join together to get affordable insurance through mass purchasing.

In the Snohomish chamber’s case, that means a choice of six health-care plans through Regence BlueShield, including preferred-provider and point-of-service plans, according to literature provided by the WBACC.

“It’s designed to be a group medical plan and includes vision, and dental is an option,” said Melody Clemans of Olympic Insurance Agencies, a division of Potter, Leonard & Cahan Inc. of Lynnwood, which is the preferred independent insurance agent for the Snohomish chamber’s insurance program.

WBACC also offers disability, life insurance, legal and personal accident plans.

To participate, chamber members can request a quote from WBACC’s local administrators, Marsh Advantage America in Seattle. Once a quote has been formulated, it is sent to the chamber member. A copy also can be sent to a local insurance broker or agent for appraisal.

That’s where Clemans and her colleagues at Potter, Leonard & Cahan come in. They will evaluate the quote and act accordingly on the chamber member’s behalf, looking for more competitive plans if necessary.

Osborne said there was a real need expressed among businesses in the community for health-care options applicable to small businesses.

“It’s one of the first questions we get, ‘Do you have any medical insurance possibilities?’ ” she said.

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