Page 39 - ATR 1 2014 web

drivers lag in obamacare

enrollment

Federal health care deadlines loom, violators subject to fines

by Jennifer barnett reed vide benefits services to trucking com- income thresholds to pay their premi-
Contributing Writer panies and independent truck drivers. ums, and sets tax penalties for individu-
Two ways the government is try- als and businesses that don’t comply.
Ignoring it won’t make it go away. ing to accomplish that are through a While Jan. 1, 2014 received the
Sure a number of deadlines for individ- requirement that companies with 50 most publicity as the deadline for
uals and companies to comply with the or more full-time employees offer their individuals to have in place health
Affordable Care Act have been delayed, workers an affordable health insurance insurance that meets the Affordable
but they’re still in effect, and more are plan with coverage that meets a set of Care Act’s (ACA) standards, the actual
coming soon. basic standards, and a requirement that deadline for people to enroll if they
“The government really wants every individual who doesn’t get health want to avoid paying the penalty is
everyone to get health insurance, and insurance through their employer or March 31. That’s coming sooner than a
they’re going to try to make them do it another government program sign up lot of independent truck drivers would
one way or another,” said Olin Wage of for a health insurance plan that meets like to think, said Hazen Mirts, CEO
Stephens Insurance, who works with the those same standards. The law provides
Arkansas Trucking Association to pro- financial help for people who meet 

arKansas trucKing report | issue 1 2014 39