Thera Benefits makes it simple for companies of all sizes to offer health coverage, fully integrated into your payroll system.

For US employees, Thera offers two options:

• Small Group Health Insurance (powered by SimplyInsured)
• ICHRA Plans (powered by Thatch)

This guide compares both options to help you choose what fits your team best.

Option 1: Small Group Health Insurance

A traditional employer-sponsored plan. You choose one or more group plans, and your team enrolls through Thera’s partner, SimplyInsured. It’s straightforward, familiar, and ideal for teams with 2 or more full-time employees.

Option 2: ICHRA

ICHRA stands for Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement.
It’s a modern and flexible option where employees pick their own plan, and you reimburse them. ICHRA is great for distributed teams and offers more control over your benefits budget.

Small Group vs ICHRA

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Which Option Fits Your Team Best?

Choose Small Group Health Insurance if:
Your team works in one state, you prefer a traditional group plan, and want an easy rollout for all employees.

Choose ICHRA if:
Your team is remote or multi-state, you're hiring gradually, or you want to offer flexibility for employees to choose their own plans.

Thera gives startup founders and growing teams a simple way to manage payroll and benefits in one platform. Whether your team is local or distributed across states, you can offer healthcare benefits without added complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What plans are offered for both options?‍

Group Health Insurance (via SimplyInsured) includes employer-selected plans like PPOs or HMOs, which employees enroll in through the company. ICHRA (via Thatch) allows employees to choose their own individual health insurance plans and get reimbursed by the employer.

‍What are the costs associated with both options?

Group health insurance has fixed monthly premiums typically split between employer and employee. ICHRA lets employers set a defined monthly reimbursement amount.

‍What’s the minimum team size for offering benefits?

Small Group Health Insurance requires at least two W-2 employees. ICHRA is available even if there is only one employee.‍

What if I don’t know which option is right for me?‍

You can message us in the chat on our site and we’ll help you decide based on your team and budget. You can also book a demo.‍

How do I get started?

If you're already using Thera, contact our support team at support@getthera.com and we'll help you set it up.

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