Access Health CT Small Business Announces New BusinessPlus Platform

New platform makes it easy to enroll employees in an alternative option to traditional group coverage 

HARTFORD, Conn. (Feb. 20, 2025) — Access Health CT (AHCT) Small Business today announced its new BusinessPlus platform to help Connecticut business owners manage health benefits more efficiently. BusinessPlus provides access to Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) and will launch this summer.

Introduced by the federal government in 2019, an ICHRA is a type of health benefit where employers can provide employees with pretax dollars to help cover their health insurance premiums and qualified medical expenses. With this option, Connecticut employees can shop, compare and enroll in one of the 22 Qualified Health Plan (QHP) options offered through AHCT’s individual marketplace.

Previously, employers had limited plan choices, a one-size-fits-all solution for an employee base that was not one size. And with rates increasing annually, employers were faced with offering expensive options or nothing at all.

BusinessPlus provides a more flexible, simple and affordable option for Connecticut employers.

With an ICHRA, employers can offer coverage through the state-based exchange for some, or all, of their employees. Employers can provide a pretax monthly contribution for employees to help offset the cost of insurance premiums. Or in some instances, if an employee qualifies for subsidies through the exchange, the employee can use Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) to offset the cost of premiums, and the employer would not provide any contributions at all – a significant advantage to both the employer and employee.

Employees use the employer contributions or APTCs to reduce the cost of their health insurance plan through AHCT’s individual marketplace. This offers employers a way to remain competitive while decreasing costs and offering more health coverage options for their employees. And with the employer’s contributions, employees will benefit from lower costs and the freedom to choose health coverage based on their needs.

“The BusinessPlus platform is the first ever to be fully developed by a state-based marketplace,” said Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer James Michel. “We are thrilled to roll out this new platform and continue our mission-driven work of reducing the uninsured rate in our state. We will share more information in the coming months and look forward to providing innovative solutions for the Connecticut business community.”