How to Make Health Care Reform Work for Your Business

Health Care Reform and Small Business: If You're Midsize

Employers with more than 50 workers should be aware that they will be responsible for covering at least 60 percent of workers' health care costs by the year 2014. If they fail to, they could be fined $750 per employee, and up to $2,000 per worker each year in tax fees. Thirty of the company's uninsured workers, though, will not be subject to this fine. (Of course, most organizations at this size already provide health insurance.)

One important aspect of the law to note: Larger companies should be aware that two part-time employees can be counted as one full-time employee in calculation of the monetary penalties for not providing insurance.

For companies employing 200 or more people, the new law will require that employees be automatically enrolled in health coverage – though individual employees seem to be able to opt out of coverage after their automatic enrollment. Whatever the case, if you have this many employees, you are probably already providing insurance to some degree. 

Dig Deeper: More Articles on Employee Benefits

Health Care Reform and Small Business: Additional Resources

The Small Business Administration has created a guide to health care for small business owners.

The office of Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius posted this web chat on small business and health care reform on YouTube; it features Secretary Sebelius and SBA Administrator Karen Mills.

The White House' official health care web page offers a breakdown of the new law.

The conservative National Review posted this column on the battles that lie ahead over health care.