Small Business Community Supports One-Year Delay In the Individual Mandate Requirement

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Small Business Community Supports One-Year Delay In the

Individual Mandate Requirement

National Association for the Self-Employed Releases Letter Calling for Delay to Allow More Education Amid Incomplete, Missing Information

WASHINGTON – As the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on H.R. 2668, Fairness for American Families Act, allowing for a one-year delay in the individual mandate requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) – the nation’s leading resource and advocate for the self-employed and micro-businesses – today offered its support.

“We strongly support a one-year delay in the individual coverage mandate,” said Kristie Arslan, NASE’s President and CEO. “The delay will allow for more engaging and robust education about the requirements, coverage and costs for the public.  The health care marketplaces – or Exchanges – operated by either the state or Federal Government are not near ready to run efficiently or effectively. As one of the largest budget items for the self-employed and micro-businesses, premium costs for individuals and families are still incomplete and unknown.”

The NASE spearheaded a joint letter delivered to the U.S. Congress today supporting the delay, which was also signed by other associations and organizations representing the small business community. The letter was sent to each member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The letter states:

“The reality of the situation is that there is a significant amount of key information missing that would inform America’s smallest businesses and their employees, who purchase coverage in the individual health insurance market, as to how they would comply with the coverage requirements within the new health marketplaces.  As it stands, there is little to no information regarding participating insurance carriers and premium costs in Exchanges, further exasperating the sentiment that the marketplaces will have significant challenges in educating and attracting consumers during the open enrollment process.”

The NASE recently released its Affordable Care Act in Brief that highlights how the new health care law will impact 22-million self-employed and micro-businesses nationwide. It outlines the pros and cons of health care coverage small businesses must consider while underlining the lack of information in the public domain about the health care law, the Exchanges and details of enrollment requirements.

“We stand ready to work with the Administration, Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services on creating an equitable and comprehensive health insurance system that allows all Americans to access and purchase affordable health care coverage,” concluded Arslan.

Beginning on January 14, 2014, Americans will be required to purchase health care coverage or pay a penalty. Enrollment in the Exchanges open on October 1, 2013.  In addition to the NASE’s small business health resource center, the government recently re-launched a new website portal for the public to learn more about the new health care law and it’s Exchanges: www.HealthCare.gov.

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The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy. The NASE Small Business Locator helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's website at NASE.org