7 While the ACA changed little for large employer group health
BUSINESS INSURANCE DC DOING BUSINESS GUIDE 2018/2019 77
insurance and self-funded groups, much has changed for
smaller employers. The Small Business Health Insurance
Options Program (SHOP) available through DC Health Link,
the District’s health exchange marketplace, is intended to
pool all eligible small businesses (employers with fewer
than 50 full-time employees) in the District into one group.
This spreads risk across a vast number of participants while
yielding costs that are similar to those otherwise available to
large employers and government entities. Further, although
the DC Health Link system provides automatic price and
plan comparisons based on information provided in the
marketplace of interest, one of more than 800 licensed
brokers will serve as a personal adviser, looking out for a
company’s best interests.
In addition, small business owners who purchase coverage
for their employees on the exchange are eligible for a tax
credit up of to 50 percent of the cost of providing health
insurance for their employees and up to 35 percent for taxexempt
employers.
For more information, visit: disb.dc.gov and dchealthlink.com.
GROUP DISABILITY INSURANCE
A business owner may want to consider offering disability
insurance to employees should employees become disabled and
unable to work. There are two types of disability insurance:
• Short-term disability covers a portion of the
policyholder’s salary for a short period of time, typically
three to six months following a disability. The specific
period and percentage of replaced income varies with
different policies.
• Long-term disability insurance benefits typically begin
after the policyholder is disabled and unable to work for
at least six months. Benefits can extend for a specified
number of years or until the insured retires or reaches age
65, depending on the policy.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE
Commercial property insurance protects business owners
from losses due to theft or damage to physical space or
equipment. For insurance purposes, a business property
includes the physical building in which it resides and its
other assets, including machinery, computers and other data
processing equipment, signs, fences, intangible items such as
trademarks and copyrights and inventory. The insurance also
can provide protection for employees’ personal property.
One of three levels of coverage can be selected to become
part of a commercial property policy. Each level provides
more coverage. These different levels of coverage are more
commonly known as Causes of Loss forms.
/disb.dc.gov
/dchealthlink.com