Health Care Exchange Law Delayed to Give Employers More Time

'Exchanges' allow them to comparison-shop plans

A new healthcare reform law, that would require employers to notify employees in writing about the availability of public health insurance exchanges, has been delayed indefinitely by federal regulators. 'Exchanges' are a key provision of Obama's Affordable Care Act and would allow individuals and small employers to comparison-shop among private insurance plans through a Web-based portal. Businesses originally had until March 1 to comply, but now the requirement will not go into effect until regulations are issued and "become applicable," said the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury. Regulators are considering providing "model, generic language" that employers could use. They now expect that the notices will be distributed in late summer or fall, which would coordinate with the Oct. 1 starting date for the exchanges' open enrollment. (Biz Journals)

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