Business & Tech

A Job for Employers: Tell Workers About Online Insurance Marketplace

Whether they offer coverage or not, employers must get the word out about online exchanges -- by October 1

By Andrew Kitchenman (Courtesy of NJ Spotlight)

New Jersey’s employers are expected to be a key channel for informing their workers about the new health insurance marketplace or exchange, but many are confused about what exactly the government wants them to do.

Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, employers must notify employees about the existence of the marketplace, a one-stop online shop for purchasing insurance and learning about eligibility for subsidies. The marketplace will begin enrolling residents on October 1 for insurance coverage starting on January 1, 2014.

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But with 11 days to go until the marketplace is launched, many employers are still uncertain about what they are required to do, according to business experts.

“There’s a lot of confusion and I think employers who want to comply with the law don’t know what their responsibilities are,” said Christine Stearns, vice president of health and legal affairs for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

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The requirement to notify employees about the health exchange affects all employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which is the vast majority of them -- including those that offer insurance. That’s because all Americans are eligible to purchase insurance through the marketplace, even though only those who aren’t offered affordable coverage by their employers are eligible for subsidies.

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.


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