Politics & Government

White House Announces One-Year Delay For Part of Health Care Law

Employers will now have until 2015 to provide federally mandated health benefits for their employees.

By Katherine Hafner

The Obama administration this week announced it will delay a major part of the President’s controversial health care reform law, after increasing pressure from employers.

A key stipulation of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers with more than 50 full-time employees to provide health benefits or pay a fine.

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Complaints from employers have caused the administration to postpone the start date of this requirement, according to the Los Angeles Times. Employers were originally set to comply with the requirement starting 2014, but will now have until 2015.

“We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively,” said Mark Mazur, assistant secretary for tax policy, in a statement released Tuesday. “We have listened to your feedback. And we are taking action.”

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The decision to postpone this aspect of the law does not change the start date for other provisions of the law, which are still set to go in effect in 2014, according to the LA Times.

The White House has also announced a new outreach forum for citizens or businesses to ask questions about choosing their health insurance plans for next year.

A website – www.healthcare.gov – provides more information for health care consumers, and call centers – now open 24 hours a day at (800) 318-2596 – provide people with the opportunity to speak with Health and Human Services officials.

Tell us, in the comments section below:

-What do you think about the White House postponing the start date for employers to have to provide coverage for employees? Will you be affected by the delay?

-Will you use the new resources to find out more about your health care coverage?


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