Many small business owners might be going in to panic mode as the new year gets closer. Sweeney & Sweeney Insurance wants you to know we are here to help you through this big transition. In this article we have outlined some key points that you as an owner need to start thinking about now. Below are some questions you can ask yourself to help you make the best choice for your business.

• Do I have to offer coverage to my employees? If you have 50 or more
  full-time employees, you are required to offer affordable coverage to your
  employees.
• How many of my employees are considered full-time? According to the
  ACA regulations, full-time employees are 30 or more hours per week. If you are
  anywhere near 50 employees you need to be very clear who is considered a
  full-time or part-time equivalent. This can be a very confusing process, but
  Sweeney & Sweeney has trained professionals to help you walk through these
  steps.
• What coverage classification should I choose for my employees? The
  coverage’s will be tiered as, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Be sure to
  balance the best offerings with a plan your employees can afford (May not
  exceed 9.5% of the employee’s gross income).
• Will I offer coverage for dependents? This is a tricky concept and
  you need to be extremely careful. Choose the best balance that your employee’s
  family can afford. If a dependent is offered affordable coverage through an
  employer they may NOT go to the individual exchange and receive a subsidy. If you
  decide to offer employee only coverage, then their dependents can go to the
  individual exchange to receive a subsidy. It is very important to balance what
  is best for your employees and we recommend speaking to a health care
  professional about this.
• Should I handle these decisions on my own? It is highly recommended
  to choose an Agency who is Health Care Reform certified to walk you through these
  extremely important steps to insure your employees are getting the best deal
  and to avoid any penalties to your business. Sweeney & Sweeney Insurance is
  here to help. Give us a call for more information!