Small Business Employer  District and federal law makes a distinction between "small employers" and "large employers" insurance purposes. Small employers have certain legal protections, including protections against rate increases, and different rules regarding the level of coverage a plan must provide. For health coverage purposes, a business is considered to be a small employer if it has two to 50 full-time employees, defined as employees who customarily work at least 30 hours per week and are not seasonal or contract workers. Small Employer Coverage Overview Resources Available to Small Employers Back to Finding Insurance That Is Right for You