As the Health Insurance Marketplaces opened for business this week, ABA made available on BookWeb the PowerPoint presentation “The Affordable Care Act: What the Healthcare Law Means for Your Small Business,” an overview that is being presented at ABA’s education session at each of the fall regional trade shows.

At press time, national media outlets were reporting that the Obama administration was delaying by one month online enrollment in the federally operated Small Business Health Options (SHOP) health insurance exchanges. Businesses can still enroll via fax, mail, or phone beginning October 1.

ABA and the Small Business Majority will present “Health Care Reform and the Bookstore: How It Affects You Now” at the last three trade shows of the fall season: PNBA and NEIBA, both October 6 – 8, and MPIBA, October 10 – 12.

With states’ Health Insurance Marketplaces set to open for enrollment on Tuesday, October 1, now is the time for bookstore owners — and employees — to learn how health insurance reform affects them.

As part of new regulations created under the Affordable Care Act, all employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to notify their full- and part-time employees by October 1, 2013, regarding the availability of health care coverage, regardless of whether they offer health coverage or not.

Earlier this month, the White House announced the launch of a “one-stop-shop” that provides employers with access to information on the Affordable Care Act.

Initiatives announced this month by the Small Business Majority to help small businesses navigate and make the most of the Affordable Care Act include an online Health Coverage Guide and a series of webinars presented in partnership with the Small Business Administration.

At each of this year’s fall regional trade shows, the American Booksellers Association, with support from the Small Business Majority, will be offering a timely and informative educational session on the Affordable Health Care Act.

On Tuesday, July 2, the White House announced  a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act mandate that requires employers with more than 50 employees to provide healthcare coverage or pay a penalty. However, the requirement that all citizens acquire health insurance by January 1, 2014, has not changed.

On Monday, June 24, the Obama Administration announced it had kicked off its Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as exchanges) education effort with a new “consumer-focused” HealthCare.gov website, as well as a 24/7 consumer call center designed to assist Americans in preparing for enrollment in the health exchanges.