{"id":4758,"date":"2013-11-14T09:07:57","date_gmt":"2013-11-14T17:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.dlvr.it\/?p=4758"},"modified":"2026-04-20T22:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T05:21:12","slug":"navigating-the-affordable-care-act-and-understanding-the-affects-on-small-businesses-part-i-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dlvrit.com\/blog\/navigating-the-affordable-care-act-and-understanding-the-affects-on-small-businesses-part-i-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the Affordable Care Act and Understanding the Affects on Small Businesses: Part I Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"healthcare\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In a series of blog posts, we will be addressing a pretty ‘meaty’ subject – the Affordable Care Act. As a small business, we needed to understand it. Our goal is to share what we learned as we navigated through the details.<\/p>\n

The Affordable Care Act<\/a> (ACA) became law three and a half years ago. Only last month (October 2013), did substantive provisions specifically affecting small businesses became effective. However, many provisions tangentially affecting small businesses have been in effect since the ACA became law. I will be discussing these provisions in a series of blog posts. Below is a partial introduction and overview.<\/p>\n

According to the National Federation of Independent Business, since 1986 the NUMBER ONE concern for Small Businesses every year has been access to AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The health care law is already having positive impact on both premiums and medical costs. Additionally, certain consumer protections such as the prohibition against denying insurance for those with preexisting conditions<\/a> have been placed in effect. As most of us know, there have been major implementation setbacks of the sections affecting small businesses. Provisions designed to help small business have not been given the strength necessary to have real effect. For example, the tax credits to help small businesses defray the cost of covering employees may be too small to induce employers to obtain medical coverage. More concerning is the complexity and difficulty in understanding the law and applying for the credits. Moreover, the IRS has been slow to write rules governing the law. The implementation of the Federal version of \u00a0SHOP (see below) has been stricken by a defective web implementation (partially caused by private development delays due to their reluctance to go full bore due to the law\u2019s constitutionality being challenged in the courts and the House of Representatives). \u00a0I do not intend to debate the pros and cons of the law but to provide an overview of the key components affecting small businesses.<\/p>\n

The ACA defines a small business as having fewer than 50 Full Time Equivalent Employees<\/strong>. The ACA does not impose new substantive requirements on small businesses (but see: notice to employee requirements, below), but provides new health insurance alternatives to them through state-based Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges. Although somewhat cumbersome, as a result, small businesses will tend to be unaffected or experience savings under reform<\/strong> depending on whether they provide insurance to their employees and take advantage of some of the provisions.<\/p>\n

Important Requirement for an Employer: Notice to employee<\/b><\/h3>\n

Under the ACA those employers who have at least one employee and at least $500,000 in annual dollar volume of business<\/strong>, must:<\/p>\n