Affordable Care Act

DES ENTERPRISE, INC.

When discussing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, it’s obvious that a majority of United States citizens and taxpayers are getting most of their “information” from widely-shared, social media-driven images designed to either bash or wax lyrical about the act. Our job at DES is to simplify yours. That’s why we’re offering you an easy breakdown of Affordable Care Act and what it means to employers, their employees and every other taxpayer, from a neutral viewpoint.

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010.
• Its provisions put an emphasis on keeping people healthy (preventative services).
• Currently, state Health Insurance Marketplaces (exchanges) are available.
• that offer easily compared private insurance plans to citizens who wish to purchase their own health insurance.
• Health Insurance Marketplaces are run by state governments. You can find out if your state is operating a Marketplace here.
• October 1, 2013, open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplaces began. Employers are required to provide written notices to employees of available state exchanges.
• The PPACA requires large business owners (50+ employees) to offer adequate health insurance to their employees.

• It offers tax incentives to small business owners (<50 employees) who choose to provide their employees health insurance.
• In 2015, large businesses must “play or pay” by providing the minimum coverage to their employees or paying $2,000 per employee beyond 30 people.
• The $2,000 fee is designed to offset the cost of premium tax credits that employees paying for their own health care receive.
• Small business employers may purchase health care plans through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).
• SHOP offers plan-to-plan comparisons and optimum control over coverage and how much you pay toward employee premiums.

If you have any questions, or need help setting up your business’s health care plan (in compliance with the PPACA), give us a call at DES today!