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Census File Format
Census File Format

Below you will find the required and optional fields for the census upload files. You can also download a template.

Updated over a week ago

Note: There are different minimum requirements for creating a prospect or a client in the benefitbay® platform.

The more employee information you provide – the more accurate your results will be. Please use the formats below to avoid upload errors. Be sure that you save your census file as a .csv file only.

There is a known compatibility issue with Mac computers using MS Excel --- we suggest using Numbers for Mac to save and export .csv files.

CENSUS FORMAT – PROSPECT/CLIENT

Creating a prospect in the employer set-up process is the fastest way to run ICHRA scenarios on benefitbay®.

In Prospect mode, there are 10 required fields

In Client mode, there are 6 additional required fields

Please note: If an employer is loaded in benefitbay® as a prospect, and later becomes a client, you will need to collect the additional required CLIENT MODE fields prior to employee enrollment.

FIELD NAME

FORMAT

PROSPECT MODE

CLIENT MODE

First Name

Alphabetic

Required

Required

Last Name

Alphabetic

Required

Required

DOB (Date of Birth)

mm/dd/yyyy

Required

Required

Gender

M or F

Required

Required

Tobacco Use

Y or N

Required

Required

Address 1

Alphanumeric

Optional

Required

Address 2

Alphanumeric

Optional

Optional

City

Alphabetic

Optional

Required

State

2 letter abbreviation

Required

Required

Zip Code

5 digit

Required

Required

Phone

10-digit number, no chars

Optional

Required

Personal Email

Ignored

Required*

Spouse Coverage

Y or N

Optional

Optional

# of Children

Numeric

Optional

Optional

Avg Hours per Week

2 digit number

Required*

Required*

Annual Wages

Numeric, no commas

Required*

Required*

Other Income

Numeric, no commas

Optional

Optional

SSN (Tax Id)

999-99-9999

Ignored

Required**

Job Title

Alphabetic

Optional

Required

Employment Start

Date

mm/dd/yyyy

Required

Required

Cur Group ER Amt***

Numeric

Optional

Optional

Cur Group EE Amt ***

Numeric

Optional

Optional

Renewal Group ER Amt***

Numeric

Optional

Optional

Renewal Group

EE Amt ***

Numeric

Optional

Optional

Cur Coverage

EEO, EES, EEC, EEF, Waived

Optional

Optional

Spouse F & L Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Spouse DOB

mm/dd/yyyy

Required

Required

Spouse Gender

M or F

Required

Required

Spouse Tax ID (SSN)

999H99H9999

Optional

Optional

Spouse Tobacco use

Y or N

Optional

Optional

Dep1 F Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Dep1 L Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Dep1 DOB

mm/dd/yyyy

Optional

Optional

Dep1 Gender

M or F

Optional

Optional

Dep1 Tax ID (SSN)

999-99-9999

Optional

Optional

Dep1 Tobacco Use

Y or N

Optional

Optional

Dep2 First Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Dep2 Last Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Dep2 DOB

mm/dd/yyyy

Optional

Optional

Dep2 Gender

M or F

Optional

Optional

Dep2 Tax ID (SSN)

999-99-9999

Optional

Optional

Dep2 Tobacco Use

Y or N

Optional

Optional

Dep3 First Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Dep3 Last Name

Alphabetic

Optional

Optional

Dep3 DOB

mm/dd/yyyy

Optional

Optional

Dep3 Gender

M or F

Optional

Optional

Dep3 Tax ID

999-99-9999

Optional

Optional

Dep3 Tobacco

Y or N

Optional

Optional

Including other household income in the “Other Income” will allow for the most accurate calculation of subsidy eligibility. Including details for the field names at the end of the second table starting with "Cur Group EE Amt ***" will allow for the most accurate comparison between current plan costs versus renewal plan costs versus ICHRA modeled costs, as well as accurate reference premium amounts.


*If the Employer does not have personal email addresses for all employees, please use the employee’s company email addresses. Do not enter fictitious email addresses.

**If the Employer does not provide a Social Security Number (SSN)for each employee, please leave the field blank. Employees will have the opportunity to provide their SSN during the benefit enrollment process. Do not enter a fictitious SSN.

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