Learn about the insurance policy your employer is planning to offer. Let your employer know if you or your dependents are interested in applying for premium assistance.

Your employer will let you know when it is time to complete the applications. There are two applications to complete if you are seeking premium assistance. They are: (1) an application for insurance; and (2) an application for premium assistance.

Return your completed insurance application and your completed premium assistance application to your employer or to the insurance representative, whoever your employer identifies. Place your premium assistance application in a sealed envelope. The envelope will be provided to you by your employer or the insurance representative. 

Accept or decline participation in the premium assistance program when notified of your status and the cost of the insurance. 

Watch for a letter from Health and Welfare confirming your participation in the premium assistance program. This should arrive within 60 days of the date you submit your application. 

Work with the small business employer and employees to review coverage options and provide information about the Access to Health Insurance program. Distribute the following information and materials to those interested:

• Access to Health Insurance brochures
• Premium Assistance Applications
• Envelopes to use to submit the Premium Assistance Applications
• Privacy Notices  

To request copies of these materials please call the Medicaid Eligibility Processing Center at: 1-866-326-2485.

You or the employer should register online to participate in the Access to Health Insurance program and to reserve slots for all adults (employees and spouses) applying for premium assistance. You do not have to reserve slots for children.

For example, if there are four employees and three spouses applying for premium assistance, register for seven slots.  Go the AHI Web Registration page to register now.

The last page of the registration will give a confirmation number. You should print this page for your records.

The Department of Health and Welfare will e-mail you or the employer when it is time to submit applications. The person to receive that e-mail will be whoever is identified as the contact on the online registration.

Do not submit any applications prior to that notification. Make sure all employees who would like premium assistance complete two applications: (1) an insurance application; and (2) a premium assistance application.

Make copies of the completed applications for insurance and any applications for premium assistance. Attach a Cover Sheet (available by request or online) to the copies and send them to the Medicaid Eligibility Processing Center within 15 days of the e-mail request for applications. If this does not happen, the employer will lose the reserved slots and will be required to re-register.

Follow your normal procedures for submitting the insurance applications to your carrier.

You will receive a Conditional Approval Letter and an Employer Agreement from the Department of Health and Welfare identifying, by employer, who qualifies for premium assistance and who does not.

At the same time, you should receive information from the carrier about the cost of the insurance.

Let the employer know what the costs will be and how many employees will qualify for premium assistance.  The employer must then notify you if he or she would like to proceed.

Ask the participating employer to sign the Employer Agreement. 

Complete the Conditional Approval Letter.

Forward both the Employer Agreement (if the employer chooses to proceed) and the completed Conditional Approval Letter to the Medicaid Eligibility Processing Center. These must be received within 15 days of the date you receive the Conditional Approval Letter.

Send a copy of the Conditional Approval Letter to the carrier.