How many hours per week must employees regularly work to be eligible for coverage within a small employer health plan?

To determine eligibility for coverage within a small employer health plan, it is essential to understand the common requirement regarding the number of hours an employee must work. Generally, under small group health insurance rules, employees need to regularly work a minimum of 20 hours per week to be eligible for coverage.

This threshold aligns with federal and state regulations aimed at ensuring that employees who work a significant amount of hours are provided access to health benefits. The rationale behind setting the minimum at 20 hours is to balance the interests of both employers and employees; it allows part-time employees to access health coverage while still keeping the requirements manageable for small employers.

In contrast, other options reflect lower or higher hour requirements, which do not align with standard eligibility criteria in most small employer health insurance plans. Therefore, 20 hours stands out as the correct minimum threshold for eligibility.