Health Care

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.

While health insurance exchanges are not set to open until January 2014, enrollment for the exchanges begins October 1. Now is a good time for booksellers to be considering their new insurance options under the Affordable Care Act.

On March 15, ABA joined with the Small Business Majority and other groups in urging the Department of Health and Human Services to reject a rule that would delay critical requirements for small business health insurance exchanges, which are set to open on January 1, 2014, as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Booksellers looking to find out more about how the Affordable Care Act will affect their businesses are encouraged to sign up for a free healthcare reform webinar hosted by the Small Business Majority and ABA.

Registration is now open to ABA member booksellers for a free March 26 webinar “Your Bottom Line: What Healthcare Reform Means for Your Small Business,” presented by ABA and the Small Business Majority.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a new web page and blog dedicated to educating small business owners about the Affordable Care Act.

States that are planning to create their own health insurance exchanges had until Friday, December 14, to announce their plans, but thus far only 17 states have announced intentions to run their own health exchanges.

The reaction of the business community to the Supreme Court’s June 28 ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act was a mixed bag of pro and con.

In a ruling that surprised many experts, the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act. The Small Business Majority hailed the decision, stating that it is a victory for small business owners “who have struggled with the excessively high cost of health insurance for decades.”

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) have introduced a proposal that they say would strengthen Medicare and, in the process, expand health care choices for seniors, individuals under 65, and small businesses.

With tax season officially here, ABA reminds members that the health care reform bill includes important small business tax credits that could help their businesses.

On Wednesday, February 2, the Senate voted 81 to 17 to repeal the expanded 1099 reporting requirement that was part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sen. Deborah Stubenow (D-MI) introduced the bill, which will now go to the House of Representatives.

Last week, a second attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s expanded Form 1099 reporting requirement failed in the Senate.

The Obama administration has released new information to help small business owners take advantage of tax credits that reduce the cost of providing health coverage to employees. The update provides forms, instructions, and documents for claiming a tax credit this year.

On November 16, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act (S. 3946), which would repeal the Affordable Care Act’s expanded Form 1099 reporting requirement, set to take effect January 1, 2012.