Which program allows small businesses with up to 100 employees to purchase qualified health coverage for employees through SHOP exchanges established at the state or regional level?

• A. Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)
• B. Federally Facilitated Marketplace
• C. State-Based Marketplace
• D. Navigators Program

Answer: (A)

This item tests understanding of a program created to help small employers offer health coverage to their workers by shopping for qualified plans through exchanges run at the state or regional level. The Small Business Health Options Program is designed specifically for small businesses with up to 100 employees to purchase employee coverage through these SHOP exchanges. It emphasizes the employer-side shopping and enrollment of employees in qualified health plans.

The other options don’t fit this particular setup: a federally facilitated marketplace is mainly for individuals and families to enroll in plans, sometimes in states that don’t run their own marketplace; a state-based marketplace refers to a state-run marketplace for individuals and families (and may or may not include SHOP-style functionality); and the Navigators Program provides enrollment assistance rather than a dedicated employer shopping channel through an exchange.