Healthcare Reform – New Requirement to Provide Notice to All Employees Starts October 1

Most employers have two new obligations that commence over the next two weeks related to the new healthcare exchanges that will become available on January 1, 2014.

First, employers are required to provide a notice to all existing employees by October 1, 2013. There are two form notices–one for employers who offer health insurance and one for those who do not. Links to the notices are provided below.

Second, beginning October 1, this same notice must be provided to all new employees within 14 days of start date.

Interestingly, the US Department of Labor web site indicates there is no penalty for not complying with these new rules.

Here are the relevant links, all from the US Department of Labor:

Overall explanation of the requirements
Model notice for employers who offer health insurance
Model notice for employers who do not offer health insurance
Explanation that no penalty applies for non-compliance
Tool for determining whether this new requirement applies to your business