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2/ accessHealthnews.net Winter 2014 Open for Business Missouri Gets Early Access to SHOP Missouri is one of five states granted early access to the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Small Business Health Options Program marketplace, or SHOP, in late October. General enrollment for 2015 coverage starts November 15 in the rest of the nation. The SHOP exchange, created by the Affordable Care Act, is designed to allow employers to compare competing plans. You can then offer employees a choice of policies. Businesses with fewer than 50 full-time workers will be able to "SHOP Early Access" and establish a SHOP account, find an agent or broker, complete an application, obtain eligibility determination, upload an employee roster, and — when available in early November — browse available plans and pricing. Early online access also gives small Missouri employers time to find the best coverage for their employees. Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey and Delaware were granted early access after the Department of Health and Human Services analyzed state insurance markets, the availability of employee choice and the presence of a reliable ground operation. Only one Missouri company, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, is known to have offered SHOP marketplace plans in 2013. The law allows businesses with fewer than 25 employees to potentially qualify for a tax credit worth up to 50 percent of the cost of their insurance plan's premium purchased through the SHOP exchange. Companies with fewer than 50 full-time workers are not required to provide coverage for their workers. The above article: Copyright MU Extension Business Development Program. Used with Permission. http://missouribusiness.net Does your business qualify for a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit? To qualify for the tax credit, all of the following must apply: ● You have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). ● Your average employee salary is about $50,000 or less per year. ● You pay at least 50 percent of your full-time employees' health care premium costs. ● You offer coverage to your full-time employees through the SHOP Marketplace. Heidi Koger Proofreader Morgan Nail Contributing Writer Marjorie Langas Graphic Support Randy Leiker IT Support Tempest Wright Teen Health Writer Photography Tonia Wright Publisher, Editor-in-Chief We want to hear from you! Let us know how we are doing on Facebook, Twitter @accessHealth1 or write: accessHealth News c/o Grace Advertising 325 Broadway Lexington, MO 64067 accessHealth is published by Grace Advertising & Consulting, Inc. 325 Broadway Lexington, MO 64067 accessHealthnews.net is the online arm of this print publication. A special thank you to HCF for underwriting the following ads: House of Hope Lafayette County Health Department Missouri Valley Community Action Agency Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center HCFGKC.org Get SHOP help from experienced agents or brokers. A licensed agent or broker can help you: ● Determine if you have 50 or fewer FTEs and if your business is eligible. ● Apply for insurance for your employees. ● Review and compare price, coverage quality, and other important features of available SHOP plans. ● Enroll in the SHOP plan that you choose. ● Help you understand eligibility for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. ● Answer your questions and guide you through the process. ● Help you after you've enrolled. Visit HealthCare.gov, or contact an area broker at 816.252.3476 for questions or for enrollment assistance. Copyright MU Extension Business Development Program. Used with Permission. http://missouribusiness.net