On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law a comprehensive health care reform bill, the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Affordable Care Act is a federal law which requires each state to establish its own health insurance exchange or work with federal exchanges in which to provide a competitive marketplace where individuals and small business owners will be able to find coverage.
In January 2012, Mayor Gray signed a bill into law to establish the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority, which was instrumental in creating the Washington DC Health Link. Many individuals in the District of Columbia area use DC Health Link as their primary insurance marketplace, covering individuals from fast food workers to members of Congress. Effective July 2016, new insurance requirements for employers in Washington DC require employers to use the DC Health Link system for purchasing health insurance for their employees. DC employers are only permitted to work with brokers who are certified and appointed to work through the DC healthcare exchange, forcing many employers to find new brokers.
What Is the DC Health Link?
After the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority created the DC Health Link and continues to operate and oversee the system. DC Health Link offers individuals and small businesses to comparison shop for coverage between a variety of operators and plans. Those eligible for DC Health Link include individuals living in the Washington DC area, or small businesses with locations within the District of Columbia.
What Can BBG Do for Me?
BBG will work with employers to update employee information, select plans, and finalize the details of their health insurance so that when an employer logs into its DC Health Link account, the system will display plans that are similar to the current plan(s) offered by the company. This may include offering health insurance coverage from multiple health insurers, allowing employees to pick the plan that best fits their requirements—a choice that was not previously available to employers outside of the Health Link system. BBG will work with businesses to select open enrollment dates and determine employee eligibility to comply with all applicable regulations.
Who Is Required to Use DC Health Link?
Individuals may purchase insurance through the DC Health Link by creating an account and completing an application for individual or family coverage.
Employers must create an account through the DC Health Link website which begins by entering basic company information and creating log-in credentials. The system will then match companies with their Health Link accounts. Employers must review and update their employee information through the system, and then determine plan offerings, contributions, and employee eligibility. However, businesses who only use the DC Health Link system to research plans may be missing out on some key information.
Contact Business Benefits Group (BBG) Today
BBG works with you to deliver both a premium summary of the DC Health Link system. Focusing on high-level support, and certified and appointed to work with employers through DC Health Link, BBG is entrusted by the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority and licensed to provide full support to businesses looking to offer a quality and more affordable employee benefits package to remain competitive in any industry and to maintain a healthy and productive workplace.
BBG understands the Affordable Care Act and how its local District of Columbia marketplace, the Washington DC Health Link, works with businesses to provide insurance options to individuals and small businesses. Working with a professional broker like BBG helps business owners get the full, detailed information over the variety of coverage plans and options available in DC Health Link. Contact us today!