The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires that all employers must notify their employees of the existence of the Health Insurance Exchange/Marketplace before November 15th, 2014 in order to comply with federal regulations.  Please note the following information regarding this required notification:

1. Which employers are required to provide this information?
   With very limited exception, all employers must provide this notification to their employees regardless if they offer a group health plan or not.
    
2. Which employees must receive this notice?
   These notices must be sent to all active, full-time employees regardless if you offer a group health insurance plan or not.  Furthermore, if you do offer a group health plan, you will still need to provide notice to all active, full-time employees even if they waive coverage.
    
3. What does the notice have to include?
   The Department of Labor (DOL) has a variety of templates available based on your specific situation - CLICK HERE to view these templates.  Please note that the notices will differ depending on whether you currently offer coverage to your staff or not.  The notice must provide information about your company and some general information about the MI Health Marketplace.  The notice must explain that your employees may purchase health insurance from a variety of private insurance carriers on the MI Health Marketplace and provide the services available to them.
    
4. When does the notice need to be sent?
   This notice needs to be sent to your employees no later than November 15th, 2014
    
5. How must this notice be sent?
   The notice must be provided in writing and delivered via first class mail or through electronic delivery for those employees who have the ability to receive information electronically.  For your protection, you should keep copies of your notification along with the delivery date to your employees.