"Sixty percent of the small firms offered employee health benefits in 2012, and 41 percent of employees were enrolled in their employer's plan. Among firms not offering coverage, 75 percent pointed to cost as the most important reason why they do not. When asked what monthly premium for single-employee coverage they could afford, firms reported prices considerably below the current market average of $502.... Eighty percent of firms offering coverage use brokers to help with tasks such as selecting health plans and enrolling employees -- functions the SHOP marketplaces can provide."