The White House will delay the implementation of the so-called “employer mandate” until at least 2015, well after the 2014 midterm elections, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.
President Barack Obama’s landmark health care law includes a provision that would require employers with a staff greater than 50 to provide their employees with health insurance.
However, with today’s announcement, businesses don’t need to worry about being fined or penalized until after the midterm elections.
“The Administration is announcing that it will provide an additional year before the ACA mandatory employer and insurer reporting requirements begin,” the Treasury announcement reads.
Delaying the employer mandate, the announcement explains, will supposedly serve two goals.
“First, it will allow us to consider ways to simplify the new reporting requirements consistent with the law,” Treasury explains.
“Second, it will provide time to adapt health coverage and reporting systems while employers are moving toward making health coverage affordable and accessible for their employees,” it adds.
Treasury promises that it will publish “formal guidance” next week explaining its plan for the transition.
“Over the past several months, the Administration has been engaging in a dialogue with businesses — many of which already provide health coverage for their workers — about the new employer and insurer reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA),” the press release reads.
“We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively. We recognize that the vast majority of businesses that will need to do this reporting already provide health insurance to their workers, and we want to make sure it is easy for others to do so.
“We have listened to your feedback. And we are taking action,” it adds.
The infamous “individual mandate,” the portion of the bill that requires Americans sign on to government health care or face a fine, still stands.
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Featured image Getty Images. This post has been updated.