Health-care law seminar set for small businesses

Aim is to dispel rumors, inaccurate information

3/1/2012

Kenneth Munson said most businesses with 50 or fewer employees share one thing when it comes to the Affordable Care Act: uncertainty.

The regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in his travels around the Midwest to address the law, many small businesses believe they must buy into the health-care plan.

That is not true, he said.

"There is a misconception with some people that it requires small businesses to carry insurance for their employees," Mr. Munson said. "I was surprised that people thought that was the provision in the law. There are specific tax credits available to small businesses -- most folks weren't aware those tax credits are available now."

Mr. Munson is taking part in a seminar for small business on the new health-care law from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the University of Toledo's Scott Park Campus, 2205 E. Scott Park Dr., Room 1070.

The event is being sponsored by Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, Small Business Majority, and ProgressOhio.

The forum is meant to dispel rumors and inaccurate information that was spread about the health-care law, said David Little, a spokesman for ProgressOhio.

"There has been a lot of misinformation and we are trying to provide real information," he said, adding that businesses need to be aware of what their options are when the law takes effect in 2014.

Businesses currently are eligible for a 35 percent tax break on health-care premiums, and that will increase to 50 percent once the law takes effect in 2014, Mr. Munson said. There also are several plans to choose from and ways to limit overhead costs once the plan takes effect, he added.