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Healthcare

In March of 2010, the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was signed into law by President Obama. As the ACA is implemented, the restaurant industry will be significantly impacted. From individuals to families, and small business with 50 or fewer employees to large, multi-unit employers with hundreds of employees, the new healthcare benefit landscape will certainly affect you and your employees.

Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance marketplaces have been established at both the state and national level to facilitate the purchase of health insurance for individuals, families and businesses. Where you go to sign up for healthcare depends on where you live or operate your business. In the District of Columbia, RAMW is partnering with the DC Health Link to get restaurant employees, owners and operators the information they need to sign up and stay in compliance with the law. Those operators with businesses in Virginia and who are looking to purchase coverage for their employees, will need to visit www.healthcare.gov. In Maryland, operators who are looking to purchase coverage for their employees may visit Maryland's Health Benefit Exchange.

RAMW is working to ensure that restaurant owners and operators, and their employees receive information on healthcare developments in a timely and efficient manner.


Uninsured Rates Drop in the District of Columbia

September 16, 2015
According to U.S. Census Bureau Report, Uninsured Rates Drop in All 50 States and the District of Columbia By Tamara Kramer September 16th, 2015 New 2014 health insurance numbers released today from the U.S. Census Bureau show decreases in the rate of the uninsured in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These numbers, which cover calendar year 2013 and calendar year 2014, allow us for the first time to look at how the policies of the Affordable Care Act have affected the nation’s overall insurance rate. The state-by-state breakdown shows that Massachusetts continues to have the...Read more

DC Health Link: What Everyone Needs to Know About Open Enrollment

September 14, 2015
The Open Enrollment Period for 2016 begins November 1, 2015. During this time, individuals and families can make changes to existing plans or obtain new coverage. This period extends until January 31, 2016. As an individual or family seeking coverage, you have a number of options to get your questions answered or to get help with your enrollment. You can speak to an insurance broker, an in-person assister (IPA), or go to a one-touch center around the city at any time for free help with new plans or changes to existing plans. For RAMW members, we also have Jackie Ludden available to chat with...

DC Health Link Launches a Doctor-Find Tool

August 20, 2015
Washington Business Journal: D.C. health exchange launches new tool to make finding a doctor easier By Tina Reed - 8/20/2015, 5:00am EDT D.C. launched a new online tool to ease the task of finding a doctor that accepts plans sold on the District's health insurance marketplace. Called the Universal Doctor Directory 1.0, the new tool available on D.C. Health Link allows consumers to search individual and family plans to figure out which doctors participate in particular plans. The directory also allows consumers to find a new doctor by ZIP code, last name or specialty and then see which...

DC Health Link Extends Call Center Hours Ahead Of Tax Deadline

April 8, 2015
DC Health Link Extends Call Center Hours Ahead Of Tax Deadline NBCWashington With the April 15 deadline to file income tax returns fast approaching, DC Health Link’s Contact Center will be open on Saturday, April 4 and Saturday, April 11 to answer questions from District residents regarding providing information about health insurance for their tax returns. The Affordable Care Act requires residents to have qualifying health insurance for the entire year, report a health coverage exemption, or make a payment when they file their taxes. Additionally, DC Health Link is holding a Special...Read more

Navigating the Health Care Maze

March 30, 2015
Navigating the health care maze can seem like 10,000 questions. In this post, I have addressed a number of questions that face small business owners every day. How does an employer choose the correct plan for employees? What options are available and which ones fit the needs of all of the employee’s healthcare consumption? Are high deductible plans worth it? Your employees range from age 20 to 60 plus with different aged dependents too. Some employees only need coverage for themselves and others need to cover dependents. Do you offer one plan, two plans or possibly three plans? What is...

Newsweek: Obamacare Will Survive Even a Republican President (Opinion)

April 1, 2015
D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Newsweek: Obamacare Will Survive Even a Republican President (Opinion) BY HENRY J. AARON - 3/29/2015, 5:03 PM Anniversaries are times for taking stock. And so it is with the Affordable Care Act—a.k.a., the ACA or Obamacare. Now, at the time of the fifth anniversary of the law’s passage, the law remains in existential jeopardy. The Supreme Court is considering whether the law, as drafted, permits payment of tax credits in the 34 states that use HealthCare.Gov as their administrative agent. These credits make insurance affordable and the law sustainable...Read more

DC Health Link consumers saw some of the smallest premium increases in region

March 26, 2015
DC Health Link consumers saw some of the smallest premium increases in region Washington Business Journal The District had some of the lowest health insurance rate increases on its marketplace between 2014 and 2015, according to a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Nationally, costs for a silver plan — one of the mid-level options and the most popular tier of health plans — increased 2.9 percent. For the least-expensive silver plan for a 40-year-old nontobacco user, that accounts for an increase to $264 in monthly premiums in 2015, up from $256 in 2014...Read more

Special Enrollment Offered to Uninsured District Residents Facing IRS Tax Penalties

March 15, 2015
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release : March 9, 2015 Contact: Adam Hudson: (202) 527-5622; adam.hudson@dc.gov Linda Wharton Boyd: (202) 351-9777; linda.wharton-boyd@dc.gov Special Enrollment Offered to Uninsured District Residents Facing IRS Tax Penalties Individuals and Families Can Sign Up from March 15 Through April 30, 2015 Washington, DC ­­ – Today, the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (HBX) adopted a unanimous recommendation from its Standing Advisory Board to allow a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for District residents who may be subject to a federal tax penalty...Read more

To broker or not to broker, the first question when buying insurance

October 30, 2015
To broker or not to broker, the first question when buying insurance. By Jon S. Belinkie, HIA, HIP, DIA, DIP, MSA, CBC, ACBC, MBA, DBA, CLCS President, Health Insurance Specialists, Inc. All businesses, restaurants being no exception, want the best product at the best price. This is especially true with insurance, whether it is protection for the business/business owner, or protection for the employees through a variety of employee benefit programs. It is this author’s experience, with no exceptions, that the optimum approach is to use a reputable broker. Here is why in a Q&A format...

Prepare for Unforeseen Medical Expenses with DC Health Link

December 17, 2014
According to the Washington Informer , medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in America.​ Unexpected health costs can quickly add up. Health insurance is the best way to prepare for unforeseen medical expenses, and Obamacare has made shopping for an affordable, quality plan easier than ever before. The Affordable Care Act has made it easier for people to shop for private health coverage, to obtain financial assistance to help pay for private insurance, and to apply for Medicaid. Because of the Affordable Care Act, there are no out-of-pocket costs for most preventive...

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