Employer Mandate Delayed Until 2015

Bloomberg: Health-Law Employer Mandate Said to Be Delayed to 2015
Businesses won't be penalized next year if they don't provide workers health insurance after the Obama administration decided to delay a key requirement under its health-care law, two administration officials said. The decision will come in regulatory guidance to be issued later this week. It addresses vehement complaints from employer groups about the administrative burden of reporting requirements, though it may also affect coverage provided to some workers (Dorning and Wayne, 7/2).

The Washington Post: White House Delays Employer Mandate Requirement Until 2015  The Obama administration will not penalize businesses that do not provide health insurance in 2014, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday. Instead, it will delay enforcement of a major Affordable Care Act requirement that all employers with more than 50 employees provide coverage to their workers until 2015 (Kliff, 7/2).

What’s not changing as a result of these delays:

• The Exchanges/Marketplaces
• The individual mandate
• Individuals’ access to premium tax credits
• Any other PPACA provision

Here is the announcement by the Treasury Department made on 7/2/2013: http://www.treasury.gov/connect/blog/Pages/Continuing-to-Implement-the-ACA-in-a-Careful-Thoughtful-Manner-.aspx.

Please review the attached Health Care Reform Hot Topic for more information.