Health Care

With the new year, the Affordable Care Act’s health care tax credit for small businesses will increase from 35 percent to a maximum of 50 percent. The credit is meant to encourage small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to begin offering health insurance coverage to their employees or to maintain the coverage they already have.

Late last week, the White House announced that it was delaying by one year online enrollment in the federally operated Small Business Health Options (SHOP) health insurance exchanges.

As the White House continues to address problems on the Affordable Care Act website, local health care navigators have told Reuters that they are seeing gradual improvements on HealthCare.gov.

The numerous problems with HealthCare.gov prompted a press event on Monday by President Obama to address concerns, and Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to delay the individual mandate by a year. In addition, House Republicans have scheduled a hearing to find out why the site was launched before it was ready.

While the rollout of HealthCare.gov continues, bookstore owners with locations in more than one state can explore a couple of options for employee coverage.

As the Health Insurance Marketplaces opened for business, 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.

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.

ABA has launched a new BookWeb advocacy page focusing on the Affordable Care Act. The page offers state-specific fact sheets that provide key health care reform information and that point booksellers in the right direction if they have further questions or wish to enroll in their state’s exchange.

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.

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.

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.