A new rule from HHS will change the way your agency shops for employees' health insurance starting in 2014.

That's when states will be required to establish so-called insurance exchanges, which will allow individuals and small businesses to shop for different health insurance packages, according to an HHS fact sheet on the rule released March 12.

Under the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), employers will be able to choose the level of coverage they want to provide their employees. Employees will then be able to choose from a variety of plans within that level of coverage, HHS states.

Employers can choose to offer their employees a single plan, or they can choose to offer several plans by multiple insurers. SHOP will be structured so that employers will "get a single bill and write a single check," even if they choose to offer plans by several different insurers, HHS says.

For 2014 and 2015, states can choose whether they want to limit participation in SHOP to businesses with no more than 50 employees. The other option is to include businesses with up to 100 employees. Starting in 2016, participation must be open to businesses with up to 100 employees. Businesses that employ more than 100 people will be eligible for participation starting in 2017.

Editor's note: You can find the fact sheet here.