At the beginning of the March, the White House, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the business owner mandate was being delayed until 2016. In short, company managers will not have to modify their employee benefits so that they align with the Affordable Care Act for another two years.
But Amanda Austin, director of federal public policy at the National Federation of Independent Business, indicated that a postponement is cold comfort for many entrepreneurs.
"For small business owners, yet another delay is bittersweet," said Austin. "On one hand it may mean that they can keep their coverage for another two or three years and avoid a massive rate increase. On the other hand, the delay is temporary and doesn't address the underlying problems associated with ObamaCare."
She added that business owners are ultimately getting the short end of the stick when these delays are announced, preventing them from effectively planning because the rules are constantly being changed.
There have been several delays since the ACA open enrollment period kicked off in October, both for the employer and individual mandate. A number of Americans wouldn't mind another one, which if implemented would extend the sign-up period past March 31. According to HealthPocket, nearly 55 percent of respondents to a poll said it should be lengthened.
"Controversy will likely to follow any decision around the deadline, whether to leave the March 31 deadline standing or to extend it," said Kev Coleman, head of research and data at HealthPocket, an online insurance information resource. "However, based on the HealthPocket's survey results, it seems that an enrollment period extension enjoys more public support than retaining the existing deadline."
