Grace Advertising & Consulting, Inc.

5/ accessHealthnews.net Fall/Winter 2013 Open for Business Small Business Health Options Program accessHealth Staff (An interview with Mary Timmel, Midwest Outreach Manager at Small Business Majority) Q: What businesses are eligible to purchase through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)? A: For businesses purchasing through SHOP, the average annual wages must be less than $50,000 per year, and the employer must cover at least 50% A: In 2014, businesses with up to of the premium. 50 full time equivalent employees (FTEs) are eligible to purchase on Q: What is the enrollment SHOP. By 2016, businesses up to schedule for SHOP? 100 FTEs will be eligible to A: For coverage effective by purchase on SHOP. January 1, 2014, businesses need Q: What are the eligibility to enroll by December 15, 2013. requirements for tax credits? What's different about SHOP is that enrollment is ongoing A: Businesses with fewer than 25 throughout the year. However, FTEs are eligible for tax credits for open enrollment in the individual up to 50% for any two years. Marketplace ends March 31, 2014. Businesses can amend their taxes In both, you have to enroll by the 15th of each month to have an back to 2010 if they qualify. effective date beginning the Q: What is the maximum, following month. So, if you enroll average, annual wage to on December 16th, the effect date for coverage is February 1, 2014. qualify for tax credits? Live Well Health & Wellness Center of Waverly Live Life Well Preventive care is essential to a long, healthy life. And because of the the Affordable Care Act (ACA), well woman exams are now covered by your insurance. Your well woman exam is now covered. Q: What requirements must Q: Will the mandate encourage employer-sponsored insurance employers to hire less full-time workers and potentially spike meet? the unemployment rate? A: Employer-sponsored insurance has to meet an affordability A. The employer mandate is for requirement as well as a minimum businesses with 50 FTEs or more. value standard. This means the Ninety six percent of all businesses portion the employee pays must are not affected by the mandate. be less than 9.5% of wages earned Small businesses have been and the employer must pay at struggling to afford coverage for a long time. The Affordable Care Act least 60% of the health plan. offers more options for small Q: What should employers businesses to purchase coverage, know about the penalties for while making it easier and more to provide quality not offering health insurance? affordable health insurance for their A: Only about four percent of employees. businesses are affected by the mandate, and of that number, less Q: How many businesses have than one percent don't offer purchased through SHOP since insurance. In 2015, businesses October 1? with 50 or more FTEs will pay $2000 per employee, exempting A: Those numbers have yet to be the first 30 employees, for not released. Right now, businesses enroll using paper providing coverage. For plans that can only The online are not affordable, businesses will applications. play $3,000 for each employee component is set to be available who receives a premium tax credit in November. Businesses can also on the individual Marketplace. enroll through an in-person (Remember, if an employer- assister or through the SHOP call center at sponsored plan costs more than toll-free 9.5% of wages, that individual is 1.800.706.7893, Monday through eligible to shop on the individual Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 Marketplace for insurance. p.m. CST. (TTY: 1.800.706.7915). Employers whose insurance does not meet affordability and minimum value, will pay a $3000 penalty for each employee that receives premium tax credits through the Marketplace.) accessHealth accessHealth You pay no out-of-pocket costs for: Breast exams Breast feeding support, supplies & services Gestational diabetes screening Cervical cancer screening Sexually transmitted infection counseling Intimate partner violence screening & counseling Pap smears Urinary tract infection testing & treatment FDA-approved contraceptives and more! Need a referral? Ask us how we can help. LiveWellCenters.org Schedule your Well Woman (and Well Child) visit wth our nurse practitioner, Ashley English, MSN, FNP-BC

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