<aside> 🧑🏽‍⚕️ Column provides health insurance through the DC Health Link marketplace. Our provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, has 50+ plans available to choose from with PPO, POS and HMO options. We cover 90% of the premiums for individuals on our reference plan — or at least $369 per month — and 75% of the premiums for dependents. Exact employer-contribution amounts are based on age-banded rates through the DC Health Link.

</aside>

<aside> 🌍 In order to be eligible for health insurance, you must be a US-based full or part-time (30+ hours per week) team member. For team members outside of the US, we provide supplemental health stipends on a case-by-case basis according to country guidelines.

</aside>

Overview

Marketplace: DC Health Link

Provider: BlueCross BlueShield

Contribution Rates: 90% of the premiums for individuals and 75% of the premiums for dependents on the reference plan.

Available Plans: There are 50+ BlueCross BlueShield plans available to select from. You can choose any plan (or waive coverage). However, not every plan will be an equally good fit for your needs and preferences. Column has selected one reference plan and two featured plans (see below). We believe that most Columnists will have their needs met by one of these three plans.

If you choose to explore all 50+ options, please consider: network coverage, monthly premiums, deductibles, health savings account (HSA) eligibility, and other factors. If you live outside of the DC Metro Area, we strongly suggest choosing a Nationwide PPO plan instead of an HMO or POS plan.

Reference Plan: BluePreferred PPO Gold 500. Our reference plan is our company default plan, which we believe best fits the average Columnist’s needs. This is BlueCross BlueShield’s #1 most popular plan. It strikes a balance with both moderate monthly costs and out-of-pocket costs.

BluePreferredPPOGold500.pdf

Featured Plans: For those who want to “buy-down” or “buy-up” from our reference plan. For more information on what it means to “buy-down” or buy-up,” see the How do the employer contributions and premium costs work? section below.

• BluePreferred PPO HSA/HRA Silver 1500, our recommended buy-down option. A solid option for anyone who wants a high-deductible health plan that is eligible for a health savings account (HSA). This plan caters to people who want to pay little to nothing on monthly premiums, but pay more when they seek care. Tends to be selected by people who do not need regular care beyond recommended preventative measures (e.g., annual screenings) and/or those who are willing to take some financial risks to lower their monthly costs.
• BluePreferred PPO Platinum 0, our recommended buy-up option. A solid option for anyone who anticipates high recurring in- or out-of-network medical costs due to chronic conditions or one-time surgeries or procedures from September 1, 2022 - August 31st, 2023. This plan caters to people who are willing to pay more in monthly premiums to pay less when they seek care. Tends to be selected by financially conservative people who want fixed costs with minimal “surprises” if they have a health event.

Enrollment or Waiver Instructions

Employees-How-to-Enroll-in-a-Plan-through-DC-Health-Link.pdf

How to Waive Coverage.pdf

How do the employer contributions and premium costs work?

As long as we are in the small employer marketplace through the DC Health Link, Column selects a Reference Plan each year. The reference plan is the basis for the monthly premium cost distribution between Column as the employer and you as the employee.

Column covers 90% of the cost of the monthly premium costs of reference plan for individuals and 75% of the monthly premium costs of the reference plan for dependents. The DC Health Link uses age-banded rates, meaning that the exact dollar amount of “90% of the cost of the monthly premium costs for individuals” will vary from person to person. The minimum amount that Column will contribute for an 18-year old employee in the 2022 Plan Year is $369.46.