The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires employers to provide their employees with a written notice about exchanges to help explain some of the benefits and potential consequences associated with purchasing through an exchange. Employers must issue these notices as of October 1, 2013. We were just notified on Aug 28th, 2013. We thought an extension was in order.
                                                         
The Exchange Notice must:

• Be distributed to all employees.
  

• Identify the existence of the new exchanges
• Provide a description of services provided by an exchange
• Explain that the employee may be eligible for a premium tax credit if the employee purchases a qualified health plan through the exchange
• Inform the employee that if they purchase a qualified health plan through the exchange, they may lose the employer contribution (if applicable) to insurance provided by the employer

In order to provide your employees with the notification, please follow the link below to download the Employer Exchange Notification in PDF format. In order for employees to access the exchange they are required to fill out this form.

                          Click Here To Download

Mainline is certified and authorized to offer programs on the Health Benefit Exchanges as well as the private market plans. We are here to support our clients and friends. We encourage you to reach out with any and all questions as we transition into this new healthcare system.

Best Regards,
Vincent Reda & Mainline Staff

Yes it will.

For businesses with under 50 Full time eligible employees on the payroll: you can purchase plans on the Small Business Health Options Program Exchange or purchase coverage through the regular non exchange marketplace. You are not obliged to provide coverage to the employees under the Health Care Reform Act. If you offer coverage and your employees do not participate and go on your plan we will then obtain coverage for them on the Individual Exchange to avoid penalties.

For businesses with over 50 full time eligible employees on the payroll: you cannot purchase plans on the Small Business Exchange. In NYS there is conversation they will raise that threshold to 100 employees in 2017.

Recently as of July 2013 they repealed the penalty for large groups (50+ full time on the payroll). No penalty will be imposed if they do not provide affordable healthcare to employees. The penalty will be reactivated in 2015. The penalty is $2000 per employee. The first 30 employees are forgiven, after that its $2000. The penalties’ will increase over time.

For individuals: if you do not obtain health insurance from your employer you will have to obtain it on the exchange. If you do not obtain coverage you will be faced with a penalty. The penalty is $95 or 1% of your w2 wages. The penalties’ will increase over time.

Stay tuned as the Affordable Care Act unfolds and we break it down for you.

Regards,
Vincent
Mainline Insurance

Finally, the rates and plan designs for the health insurance plans to be offered on the New York State Health Benefit Exchange has been released. Policies vary based on guidelines set forth by the Federal government under the Affordable Care Act. This comprises of two exchanges; one for the Individual (non-business) and the other for Small Businesses with 2-50 employees.
        
                             Click Here To Download New Rates (PDF)

We are still awaiting guidance from New York State concerning different rules and regulations. A comprehensive set off rules is scheduled for October of this year. On July 2, 2013, the Obama Administration announced on the Treasury Department’s website that it would delay the employer mandate for one year, until 2015. In the statement, the Administration said that they were delaying implementation in order to meet two goals: 

“First, it will allow us to consider ways to simplify the new reporting requirements consistent with the law. Second, it will provide time to adapt health coverage and reporting systems while employers are moving toward making health coverage affordable and accessible for their employees."

Note, the employee mandate, which is a penalty for large employers (50+ on the payroll) has been pushed off till 2015. On July 2nd 2013 the Obama administration announced 

However, the penalty for the employees still remains. Those employees will have to obtain coverage or be penalized. At Mainline Insurance we will be well prepared to help. Many of these employees will receive an Advance Premium Tax Credit to help them afford their coverage. If any of you would like to have some discussion on this matter please feel free to call or email.

The education and certification process for us to provide guidance is to start shortly. It appears it is taking the State some time to get the curriculum together. I anticipate the pace to pick up now since October is right around the corner.

We will be keeping all of you well informed periodically.

Regards,
Vincent Reda
Mainline Insurance