New National Website Walks Small Business Owners Through Ins and Outs of Health Coverage

Washington, DC̢??‰۝Today, Small Business Majority unveiled the Health Coverage Guide (http://healthcoverageguide.org), an online resource that provides small business owners with objective, step-by-step information on how to navigate the healthcare market with the new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, taking full effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

The healthcare landscape has been shifting significantly since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March 2010. In October of this year, open enrollment for state health insurance marketplaces begins, and the bulk of the law̢??‰?s provisions̢??‰۝including that everyone have insurance̢??‰۝go into effect in January 2014.

The Coverage Guide, which details provisions of the law pertinent to small businesses, walks small business owners through the complex terminology, laws and options of the health insurance market and helps them determine if offering insurance to their employees is financially feasible. It will also help them narrow down the types of plans best suited to their needs and covers federal and state healthcare laws all entrepreneurs should be aware of. It is intended solely for informational use. Small Business Majority does not endorse a particular plan type, broker or carrier.

"As the Affordable Care Act continues bringing changes to our nation̢??‰?s healthcare system, it's essential to disseminate clear, objective information not only about the new law but about the system in general to help small business owners understand their coverage options," said Small Business Majority CEO John Arensmeyer.

The coverage guide has four main sections that cover:

• Frequently asked questions about how the Affordable Care Act impacts small businesses now, and which provisions will affect them in 2014 when the law is fully implemented.
• The main issues to consider when deciding if it̢??‰?s affordable to purchase health insurance for employees.
• Steps to follow if employers decide to purchase coverage, plus alternative healthcare options to suggest to employees if group coverage is financially out of reach.
• Tools such as a tax credit calculator, which estimates how much federal healthcare tax credit employers qualify for.

̢???Our hope is that the guide allows employers, including those who are so busy that they only have a few spare moments, to find the information they need and to better understand the processes and laws involved in offering health insurance,̢???? Arensmeyer said. ̢???By placing this objective information at their fingertips, we hope to make the process of obtaining health coverage quicker and simpler for our nation̢??‰?s entrepreneurs.̢????

Visit the coverage guide at www.healthcoverageguide.org.

From Families USA:

̢???Families USA applauds Small Business Majority for issuing an unbiased health coverage guide to help small businesses navigate the Affordable Care Act. With fewer than 100 days until October 1st, the beginning of the enrollment period in the new health insurance marketplaces, it is imperative that small business owners have an impartial source of information they can turn to for reference. The Small Business Health Coverage Guide walks small business owners through the process, step-by-step, and provides the kind of objective information they need to make important health care decisions.̢????

Check out what other healthcare and small business experts are saying about the Health Coverage Guide at http://healthcoverageguide.org/about/testimonials/.