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his truck. Or he’s financially stricken
because he gets sick. It’s a no-win situ-
ation. And so to be able to get health
care now, and be able to get treated
— whether for sleep apnea, which is
even more mandated in today’s mar-
ket, or for being diabetic — access to
health care in transportation is a game
changer.” “corporate taxatioN has beeN delaYed
There’s a major push toward well- uNtil 2015, aNd that allows compaNies
ness in the trucking industry, Mirts
said, and making sure all drivers have to put their head iN the saNd. mY poiNt
adequate health insurance is a major to them is, it’s goiNg to be 2015 before
part of that. You kNow it. we’re alreadY seeiNg
The federal health insurance
exchange, www.healthcare.gov, was set reNewals for 2015, so we alreadY Need to
up to allow people who need insurance eNact the compoNeNts [to meet the aca
to compare a number of plans that all requiremeNts] Now.”
meet federal requirements for pricing
and covered services, and then to enroll
in the plan they choose. The website —hazeN mirts,
is functioning now, and provides a lot ceo, eNrollmeNt first
of information about the Affordable
Care Act’s requirements. The Arkansas
Insurance Department has also created
a website with information for Arkansas
residents, www.arhealthconnector.org.
A number of private companies
have also begun offering enrollment
services that let individuals and busi- income levels of up to about $46,000 Small businesses can also use the
nesses compare and sign up for health for an individual and about $94,200 for health insurance exchange, and private
insurance without going through the a family of four. exchanges like Enrollment First, to shop
government exchange. “Being able to guide them as to for small-group health insurance plans
“We’re just making it easy for them which one serves them the best, that’s to offer their employees.
to sign up for individual coverage,” our goal,” Wage said. “Small employers in Arkansas in
Wage said. “You’ve read that people will The service is free (Enrollment First the past have been subject to a handful
go online on the exchange, and it might earns commissions from the insurance of insurance companies,” Wage said. “It
take them hours and they don’t accom- companies whose policies they sell). may be a better deal for them to go on
plish anything. With Enrollment First, Wage works with trucking companies to the exchange and sign up their small
they can accomplish that with a 20- to offer Enrollment First to their indepen- groups.”
30-minute phone call.” dent contractors. Company owners may Companies that don’t offer qualify-
Enrollment First can sign individu- want to encourage their independent ing health insurance to their employees
als up both for insurance plans that are contractors to sign up for health insur- also face tax penalties, although those
offered through the federal insurance ance through the exchange because the have also been delayed because of prob-
exchange (plans that meet government enrollment forms indicate that the indi- lems with the health care exchange.
standards for pricing and coverage) and vidual is an independent contractor. “Corporate taxation has been
for plans that insurance companies are “The company who is hiring that delayed until 2015, and that allows
offering off the exchange. Individuals contractor now has additional proof to companies to put their head in the
who qualify for government subsidies to show they’re not an employee for tax sand,” Mirts said. “My point to them is,
help pay for insurance premiums must purposes,” Wage said. “That’s a real it’s going to be 2015 before you know it.
sign up for a plan offered through the concern with employers because they We’re already seeing renewals for 2015,
exchange, but those who don’t can by don’t want to end up having to pay so we already need to enact the compo-
coverage either on or off the exchange, taxes for a contract person that’s not an nents [to meet the ACA requirements]
Wage said. Subsidies are available for employee.” now.”

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