Small Employers Must Continue to Apply Offline Until November 2014
Online enrollment for small employers to purchase employee health coverage through the federally-facilitated Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace has been delayed for one year, until November 2014. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services previously announced that all SHOP functions would be available this month.
Until online functionality for SHOP is available, small business owners who wish to purchase a SHOP qualified health plan may work with an agent or broker to enroll. For 2014, the federally-facilitated SHOP Marketplace is open to employers with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
Employers located in a state which is operating its own SHOP may be able to purchase coverage online. Links to each state’s Marketplace website are available from the U.S. Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.
Be sure to visit our Health Care Reform section for the latest Affordable Care Act updates.