Here is another of what may be mulitple delays regarding implementation of Health Care Reform.

Deadline for Employers to Provide Notice Regarding Exchanges Postponed
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has delayed the original March 1 deadline for employers to comply with the new requirement to provide employees a written notice regarding Health Insurance Exchanges, as required under Health Care Reform. A new set of FAQs anticipates the timing for distribution of these notices to be the late summer or fall of 2013, but makes clear that employers will not be required to comply until further guidance is issued.
 
Availability of Model Notice for Use by Employers
The DOL is considering providing model, generic language that could be used to satisfy the Exchange notice requirement. Under the law, employers are generally required to provide each employee a written notice informing the employee:

1. Of the existence of Exchanges, including a description of the services provided by the Exchanges and the manner in which the employee may contact Exchanges to request assistance;
2. If the employer plan's share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan is less than 60% of such costs, that the employee may be eligible for a premium tax credit if the employee purchases a qualified health plan through an Exchange; and
3. If the employee purchases a qualified health plan through an Exchange, the employee may lose the employer contribution (if any) to any health benefits plan offered by the employer and that all or a portion of such contribution may be excludable from income for federal income tax purposes.

As a compliance alternative, the DOL is also considering allowing employers to satisfy the notice requirement by providing employees with information using an employer coverage template that would be available for download at the Exchange web sites.
 
Future guidance on complying with the notice requirement is expected to provide flexibility and adequate time to comply. For more information on Health Care Reform requirements taking effect this year, please review our 2013 Health Care Reform Checklist.