Small businesses could face financial hardship because of the Affordable Care Act

Business Insurance

January 1, 2014 is when the majority of the regulations that make up the Obama administration’s landmark health care reform bill known as the Affordable Care Act go into effect. President Obama enacted the ACA as a way to insure that all Americans would receive health care coverage that’s both affordable and comprehensive. In addition to putting health insurance within the grasp of many Americans, the new regulations bar insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone seeking it, or charging more because of age, gender, or medical history. Without a…

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The constitutionality of the healthcare reforms is now before the Supreme Court

As of Monday, March 26, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court has started to hear the verbal arguments in the highly controversial and politically charged case of whether or not the healthcare reforms made by the Obama Administration starting in 2010 are constitutional. Twenty six states have sent attorneys to represent them – primarily those with governors who are Republican – as well as the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) as they face off against the lawyers from the Justice Department. They believe that the health care reform’s requirement for…

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Washington Governor Gregoire signs state insurance exchange bill

Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire has now signed a bill into law, which now sets the rules in that state for insurance companies that are readying themselves for the online insurance exchange that is a part of the federal healthcare reform. The exchanges are a part of the President Barack Obama overhaul that began in 2010, and they must be ready to be put into place by January 1, 2014. They are designed to assist both individuals and small businesses to find proper and affordable health insurance coverage. Governor Gregoire…

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White House to use upcoming Supreme Court healthcare law arguments to shape public opinion

The White House has started the use of an aggressive campaign that it hopes will help to shape the opinion of the public about the healthcare law that is the heart of the debates for the White House and Congress, by using arguments that will come up very soon in the Supreme Court. Last week, officials from the White House summoned the leaders of dozens of different nonprofit organizations that are firm backers of the healthcare reforms, in order to help them to develop their strategy for press conferences, a…

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What should you expect from the healthcare reform today, tomorrow, and into the future?

No matter what you may think about the reforms from the Affordable Healthcare Act of 2010, the changes are already under way and they will continue on until they are required to be set in place in 2014. By that time, Americans will all be required to have some form of healthcare insurance coverage. However, there are still a large number of people in the country who are not yet fully aware of what the changes entail and how they – and their families – will be effected by them.…

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Senate in Oregon gives its last minute approval to state health insurance exchange

The Oregon Senate has given its overwhelming last minute approval for a measure toward the implementation of the state’s online health insurance exchange marketplace, which is the heart of the Obama administration’s healthcare reform and will provide individuals and small businesses a place to shop for coverage. The vote on Monday was for a measure that was championed by Governor John Kitzhaber, and was passed by 55-5 for the rules that will govern the exchange. This will give the state the ability to build an insurance marketplace ahead of the…

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Washington is one step closer to building its own health insurance exchange

Washington lawmakers have passed a bill that opens the way for a health insurance exchange to take root in the state. The bill will set up rules that will help the state prepare for the construction of the exchange and govern its operation for the foreseeable future. Legislators believe that this will help the state fully comply with the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and will help it adhere to federal deadlines. Currently, the exchange is expected to be fully operational by January 2014. The rules established by the bill…

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