Companies that deal in custom application development are now helping small businesses navigate the often murky waters of health care selection and enrollment, a complex area where the choices are many and the readily available information is not always reliable. With custom database software, developers can create apps that simplify operations for SMBs by helping them choose the best health care options for their employees.

Earlier this month, the District of Columbia's health insurance marketplace, DC Health Link, launched an app designed specifically to help local small businesses manage every step of their health care coverage, from browsing different options to exploring enrollment alternatives for their employees. Per the official press release on the launch, the new small business app, called D.C. Small Biz Market, will allow users to browse health plans, determine their eligibility for special programs and locate brokers via GPS.

The app is the first of its kind introduced by an Affordable Care Act marketplace, but as the dust settles on the implementation of the ACA, it is not unreasonable to imagine that more like it could be developed in other states in the not-too-distant future. In fact, if this D.C. app proves successful, other software developing companies, not necessarily affiliated with the ACA, could be motivated to work on dependable small business apps of their own.

Certified FileMaker developers have the tools to build custom database software which, tailored to a specific geographic region, could become an essential tool for SMBs as they work to adapt to the changing health care landscape. A custom database of all available brokers and health care providers would go a long way toward making life much easier for managers and employees alike.