In 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act health care reform law creates a new type of online marketplace for purchasing health insurance coverage. This marketplace is referred to as a Health Insurance Marketplace, or an Exchange. You are not required to purchase insurance coverage through the Marketplace. However, beginning in January 2014 the Individual Mandate provision of Healthcare Reform begins. If you do not have health insurance coverage by January 2014, you may be subject to a tax penalty. There will be no change in the manner that Monroe Community College offers health insurance to its employees.
Monroe Community College is providing the enclosed notice to help employees, who may not have affordable health insurance, understand the health insurance coverage options that will be available starting in 2014. Beginning in October 2013, you will be able to find and compare health insurance plans through the Marketplace and your coverage may start as early as Jan. 1, 2014.
The official New York State health exchange is called NY State of Health. The website address is nystateofhealth.ny.gov, and the phone number is 1-855-355-5777.
If you purchase coverage through a Marketplace, you may be eligible for a federal subsidy that lowers your monthly premiums or reduces your cost sharing. However, to receive these federal savings, you cannot be eligible for health plan coverage through the College that is affordable and provides “minimum value”.
The availability of coverage through the Marketplace does not affect your eligibility for coverage through Monroe Community College’s health plan. The enclosed notice provides information about the New Health Insurance Marketplace and the College’s health plan as it exists today. Information on the College’s health plan coverage for 2014 will be provided in connection with the plan’s upcoming open enrollment period in November, 2013.
More information on the health care reform law and the Marketplaces is available at HYPERLINK "https://www.healthcare.gov"www.healthcare.gov.
*Special Note – No action is required for any full time employee currently receiving health insurance
The Human Resources Team
Human Resources
09/26/2013
Attachments:
 Health Reform Exchange Notice for Employer offering coverage.pdf
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