Earlier this week, the NASE submitted a statement for the record to the House Ways and Means Committee in response to the committee’s hearing on the status of the ACA enrollment. In the NASE statement, we expressed our concerns that leading up to the October 1st launch, the administration was not providing sufficient details and answers regarding the Exchange Marketplace. With the lackluster launch, we are now asking congress to eliminate the open enrollment deadlines for the 2014 calendar year and to delay the individual mandate penalty for one tax-filing year.
By pushing back the deadline, congress would give you, the self-employed and small business community more time to understand all the changes and the costs associated with those changes. We know healthcare is a major decision for you, your businesses and your family and by giving you more time will allow you to make the best decisions on how to proceed. Delaying the individual mandate penalty just seems fair as congress already agreed to do this for the employer mandate. Why should it be any different for the self-employed who are their own employers?
Be sure you stay up to date with all the changes at healthcare.gov and check out the NASE’s legislative action center for our advocacy initiatives.