Is Your Company a ‘Large Employer’ Under the Affordable Care Act? Counting Employees and Assessing the Options

On Feb. 12, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA or the Act) implementing the “shared responsibility” provisions for large employers—more commonly known as the “employer mandate.” The regulations establish when and to whom employers must provide affordable health care coverage or face a tax penalty. Employers that will be impacted are “large employers” that employ 50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Employers that are or may be covered should begin the process now of determining whether they are subject to the ACA’s coverage mandate and of assessing their ...