The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that employers inform employees of their healthcare options by October 1, 2013. This notice must be sent to employees electronically, or by first class mail. For employees hired after October 1, 2013, employers must provide the notice within 14 days of an employee's start date.

Regardless of whether you offer healthcare coverage, you are obligated to provide information to your employees about the law and refer them to www.wahealthplanfinder.org, the online marketplace for health benefits. Follow these Employer Notice Requirements.

Draft model notices are provided by the Department of Labor (DOL). The notices must be customized by the employer to reflect information specific to their organization. If you are an employer who does not offer a health care plan, you will need to use this notice. If you do provide a healthcare plan to some or all of your employees, use this version of the notice.

Navigating healthcare reform for nonprofits

If you are a nonprofit that currently offers healthcare coverage, or beginning to offer coverage, you will need to understand your options.  501 Commons offers a number of resources for nonprofits to learn more, including this informative webinar, Navigating Healthcare Reform.

Hot topics in nonprofit healthcare coverage

1. Tax credits for small employers -If you have fewer than 25 employees and provide coverage, check to see if you are eligible for up to 35% in tax credits for the premiums you pay for your employees' health insurance. (For more information, see the Council of Nonprofits' resources on the small employer health care tax credit or the calculator at Taxpayer Advocate).
2. Impacts on federal subsidy eligibility -Employees and their dependents offered a health plan by their employers will not be eligible for the federal premium subsidies in 2014. Note: Eligibility for Apple Health, our state’s Medicaid program, is not impacted by the offer of coverage. Currently over 50% of children in Washington are eligible for Apple Health, and it will now be available to more adults, including low-income adults without children.

Because providing coverage could create a disadvantage for some employees, this is a big issue to consider. Impacts will vary for each organization, but some may reconsider providing coverage to employees if a large proportion of employees are lower income and eligible for subsidies.

Here are some examples of how the federal subsidies work:

• Two people, both 30 years old, making $55,000 a year would be eligible for a premium subsidy of $1,626 or 24% of the example premium cost.
• An adult, age 30, with one child and an income of $35,000 would be eligible for a premium subsidy of $2,823, which covers 53% of the overall premium.

You can model various income levels and family sizes by using the Kaiser Family Foundation Interactive Subsidy Calculator.

As you make your decisions, it is important to remember that employer support for health care coverage is a factor in attracting and retaining talented staff members.

Five ways to get more information