Small Business And The Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains several provisions to encourage employer-sponsored health coverage, particularly among small businesses. The provisions that most directly relate to small businesses are, an employer penalty for not providing health insurance; a tax credit to increase the affordability of health care for the smallest firms; and small business health insurance exchanges designed to increase plan options and lower plan costs. First, this book explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. It summarises the three ACA provisions most relevant to small businesses, listed above, and analyses these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. The book then presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty).

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains several provisions to encourage employer-sponsored health coverage, particularly among small businesses. The provisions that most directly relate to small businesses are, an employer penalty for not providing health insurance; a tax credit to increase the affordability of health care for the smallest firms; and small business health insurance exchanges designed to increase plan options and lower plan costs. First, this book explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. It summarizes the three ACA provisions most relevant to small businesses, listed above, and analyzes these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. The book then presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty).

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-152) contains several provisions to encourage employer-sponsored health coverage, particularly among small businesses. The provisions that most directly relate to small businesses are (1) an employer penalty for not providing health insurance, (2) a tax credit to increase the affordability of health care for the smallest firms, and (3) small business health insurance exchanges designed to increase plan options and lower plan costs. Several events have altered the ACA's implementation since its enactment in 2010. Most notably, the Obama Administration delayed the implementation of the employer penalty and part of the small business health exchanges from 2014 to 2015 to allow more time for developing these provisions and allowing firms to come into compliance. Subsequently, the Administration suspended the penalty for employers with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees for an additional year (until 2016). These delays have added to uncertainty over the potential effects of the ACA on small businesses. First, this report explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. Second, it summarizes the three ACA provisions most relevant to small businesses, listed above. Next, it analyzes these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. Finally, this report presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty). According to analysis of the most recent employer size and insurance coverage data, the ACA's employer penalty is structured so that it could exempt approximately 96.2% of employer firms simply because these firms would be too small and thus fall below the employer penalty threshold of 50 FTE employees. These exempt firms account for approximately 27.6% of all workers. After accounting for firms that already provide insurance, less than 1% of employer firms could be subject to the employer penalty. Although 72.4% of all employees work for firms that are large enough to be potentially subject to the penalty, only about 2.4% of employees work in firms that do not already offer health insurance. Less than 4% of small businesses that could have been eligible for the small business health care tax credit in 2010 actually claimed it. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), many business owners felt that (1) the credit was too small of an incentive to begin offering insurance; (2) even if these small employers offered health insurance, some employees declined coverage because they could not afford their share of the premium; and (3) the rules were too complex. President Obama has proposed simplifying and expanding the credit.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is arguably one of the most beneficial legacies of former U.S. President Barrack Obama. However, the Act presented hardships within the healthcare setting, as well as within the business setting. This text responds to the questions raised concerning whether ACA's good intent increased its adaptability in the healthcare and business professions to help advance the lives of Americans. As demonstrated herein, the ACA impacts both large and small businesses in their detached and work-related levels. The pertinent question is whether the increasing push by the Trump administration to have ACA repealed and replaced emanates from the interpretation and understanding by business. Worth noting is that the sources researched during the writing of this book suggest proprietors prefer the traditional method of healthcare coverage. However, different members of the U.S. Congress oppose and support the Act. The support and opposition to ACA seem to be along party lines, considering that majority Republicans oppose the Act while most Democrats support the Act. Changes are underway to repeal and replace ACA. Researchers indicated the Act affects small for-profit and non-profit organizations alike. This writing reveals how ACA massively impacts healthcare financial management. For instance, meeting the expanding consumer healthcare demand necessitates an increased rate of emerging ideas for universal healthcare. On this basis, this book includes recommendations of various strategies to help improve ACA rather than repealing the Act.

"Learn what small businesses need to know and what to tell their employees about the Health Insurance Marketplace"--P. [4] of cover.

This report explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. Then, it summarizes the three ACA provisions most relevant to small businesses. Also, it analyzes these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. Last, this report presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty).