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HealthCare4ChildCare Through DC Health Link:
Affordable health coverage for early childhood education providers and their teams
HealthCare4ChildCare for Employers Who Are Child Development Centers or Homes in the District of Columbia
HealthCare4ChildCare (HC4CC) for Employers provides free or low-cost health insurance through DC Health Link for employers (and their employees) who are early child development centers or homes and licensed through DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
- Employers can pay $0 in monthly premiums (see Eligibility section for more details).
- Employees can also pay $0 or get a reduction in monthly premiums.
- Employers can choose to offer multiple health insurance plans to their employees.
- Plans available in Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels through our Small Business Market.
- Plans in HC4CC are assigned to one of 3 metal levels to indicate how generous they are in paying expenses. Metal levels only focus on what the plan is expected to pay of medical expenses and do NOT reflect the quality of health care provided.
Platinum90%Gold80%Silver70%
- Silver plans generally have lower premiums, but employees pay more when getting covered services.
- Gold and Platinum plans generally have higher premiums, but employees pay less when getting covered services.
- Plans in HC4CC are assigned to one of 3 metal levels to indicate how generous they are in paying expenses. Metal levels only focus on what the plan is expected to pay of medical expenses and do NOT reflect the quality of health care provided.
- Premiums (if any) are paid directly to DC Health Link.
- Even if employees choose different health insurance carriers, an employer only has to make a single payment.
- Multiple payment methods available including online payment.
- Employers are encouraged (although not required) to contribute towards their employees’ monthly premiums.
- HC4CC trained experts will help employers and their employees with enrollment process.
Eligibility: The child development center or home provider must be based in the District of Columbia. All employees are eligible, whether they are District residents or not. The number of employees must not exceed 100 full-time employees (FTEs) and can include administrative and non-licensed educators.
- District residents (and their families) who are full- or part-time employees are eligible for free premiums to enroll in our Individual & Family Market (see our DC Resident Employee section).
- Non-District residents are eligible for free or low-cost premiums through our Small Business Market.
If you would like to learn more please email us at [email protected] or schedule time with us.
Free Health Insurance: If an employer chooses to offer Kaiser Permanente’s KP DC Essential Gold 500/25/20%/Vision as their reference plan and employees choose this plan, both the employer and employees pay $0 for premiums.
Free or lower premiums are guaranteed for 12 months once an employee or employer enrolls.
Find and compare available 2025 Small Business health and dental plans * on DC Health Link.
* Employer may offer low-cost dental plans, but those plans are not eligible for the HC4CC premium reduction.
DEADLINES FOR COVERAGE TO START JANUARY 1, 2025
Employers: December 5, 2024
Create a DC Health Link account, provide your employee roster, and finalize a benefits package.
Note: DC Health Link staff will do this for you as the employer (OR will work with an employer’s Broker), but you must schedule time with DC Health Link staff.
Premium Payment: December 12, 2024
Employee and/or employer share is due to DC Health Link (if applicable). If employers and employees choose a free coverage option, no payment is due.
If you need additional information, please fill out this contact form (formulario en español) for more assistance from our team.