Hopefully, all members have forwarded the mandatory
notices to their employees regarding their participation in healthcare plans by
October 1, 2013, as was required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). One rule that is often overlooked in the ACA
requires employers with more than 50 employees to provide lactation space for
nursing mothers to express breast milk for one year after a child’s birth, a
reasonable break time for that purpose, and a place other than a bathroom for
the employees’ use. On November 27, 2013, the Obama administration announced a
major delay in the online portion of the federally run Small Business Health
Options (SHOP) program, the component of the ACA designed to expand health insurance
options for small businesses. The administration announced that online
enrollment through will be delayed from December 1 until November 2014.
This delay follows a two-month delay announced earlier this year. Small
businesses still will have the option to purchase SHOP health insurance plans
through a broker or agent who will assist the employer with filing a paper
application with the government, for coverage taking effect January 1, 2014.
The government expects to be able to process paper filings for eligibility
within three to five business days, according to the Center for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the government agency charged with implementing the ACA. The
SHOP program was specifically designed for businesses with fewer than 50
employees to be able to shop for health insurance through online exchanges
similar to those available to individuals under the ACA.
(NRCA)
Trenton H. Cotney
Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer
Trent Cotney, P.A.
1211 N Franklin St
Tampa, FL 33602
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