Affordable Care Act Requires Employers to Provide Notice by Oct. 1

Action Required by Oct. 1

The Affordable Care Act requires that employers provide notice to all current employees about the health care coverage options available to their employees. Employers must distribute the required notice by October 1, 2013 to all employees whether full or part time and regardless of whether they are already enrolled under a health care plan. The requirement applies to all employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which essentially applies to all employers with more than one employee and over $500,000 in revenue.
The notice informs the employee of the new health insurance marketplace (in Massachusetts, the Health Connector), a description of services, how to contact the marketplace (also called an “exchange”) and additional required information.
The Department of Labor has announced that employers who fail to provide the notice by October 1, 2013, will not be subject to a fine. However, the notice is still required to be provided to all employees by October 1 and to all new hires going forward.
Finally, the notice may be given by hand or sent either by first class mail or electronically if the employees are provided with work related computer access.