Beginning in 2015, large employers (those with 100 or more full-time equivalent employees) must begin offering health insurance coverage to their employees. Then, in 2016, employers with 50 or more equivalent full-time employees must do the same or face penalties, called the “large employer health coverage excise tax.”

Employers with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees are never required to offer their employees an insurance plan, but qualified small employers who do provide coverage may qualify for the small business health insurance credit.

In the past, many smaller employers have simply reimbursed their employees for the cost of insurance. They found it less expensive and had fewer administrative costs than having Read More

The Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare was passed almost three years ago with the goal of extending quality health insurance coverage to more Americans and it becomes fully effective January 1st 2014. To encourage compliance, the Act for all intents and purposes takes a carrot-and-stick approach as credits are offered for those who need financial help with buying insurance, and penalties are defined for those who do not get insurance. The Act’s core requirements are most Americans must have health insurance and that all but small employers must offer insurance to full-time employees.

In other words if you are a United States citizen or legal resident you must have “minimum essential” health insurance coverage and your dependents must also be covered or risk being essentially penalized. Exemptions will be allowed for: Read More