Washington (CNN) – Online enrollment and other Web features for the Obamacare health marketplace for small businesses will be delayed for a month, officials said on Thursday.
Small businesses looking for a plan to offer employees will be able to start using the Small Business Health Option Program on October 1.
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The federal government will operate a call center to help them explore options, and they will be able to apply for coverage using a paper application.
But administration officials confirmed that features like side-by-side plan comparison and online enrollment won't be fully functional until November.
"Small businesses will be able to participate in the SHOP beginning on October 1 to evaluate their coverage options," Health and Human Services Department spokeswoman Joanne Peters said.
"In November, small businesses will be able to enroll in coverage options, well ahead of when coverage begins on January 1," she added.
To encourage business owners to use SHOP, the agency is partnering with groups in and out of government to help raise awareness.
In addition to its work with the Small Business Administration, HHS said in a statement it will work with the Small Business Majority, Main Street Alliance, Business Forward and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to try to educate business owners on the benefits of its marketplaces.
The outreach will include webinars as well as expanded hours for the program's helpline.
"Today the administration is announcing a major outreach campaign to make sure small businesses have the information they need," Peters said. "Open enrollment for the SHOP Marketplace is year round, giving small business owners plenty of time to make a decision."
Unlike in the individual marketplace where consumers must purchase insurance during the prescribed open-enrollment periods, businesses can enroll in SHOP on a rolling monthly basis. States operating their own exchanges are in charge of when their SHOP marketplaces will be up and running.
Obamacare online enrollment delay for small business
Online enrollment and other Web features for the Obamacare health marketplace for small businesses will be delayed for a month, officials said on Thursday.
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i guess three whole years wasn't enough for these dolts to get the job done... not to worry... it is just your healthcare and the healthcare of your family, your kids... no big deal.
the obamacare train wreck continues to come off the tracks.... but obama and the democrats say full steam ahead and over the cliff.
This doesn't delay any non-online applications and the online delay is only until November. If you think the law was not written to take into account things like systemic delays, etc., then you're an imbecile. Are we going to have to listen to RWNJs claim that the law is being violated whenever the website goes down for maintenance? Freekin ridiculous.
Feed that nontroversy narrative, CNN...feed it.
The plan simply keeps getting delay after delay, because it simply stinks.
Yesterday with all of CNN "fact checks": good.
Today with an article like this: Fox Lite
You guys on the left are the best.
Rick McDaniel
The plan simply keeps getting delay after delay, because it simply stinks.
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Translation: Obama and his adminstration are totally incompetent and have no idea what they are doing, even after 3-5 years.
(Why did people expect this to be any different than everything else they have failed at?)
The republicans have delayed ther health care plans for 165 years. Let me guess, starving children and preventing people access to health care is the Christian thing to do, according to right wingnuts.
"i guess three whole years wasn't enough for these dolts to get the job done... not to worry... it is just your healthcare and the healthcare of your family, your kids... no big deal."
Yeah, still being able to make your written applications on Oct 1st, but having to wait a month for a complicated website to launch so you can make your application online a month later...that kind of thing never happens with massive business endeavors and totally indicates that it's all crumbling from the ground up. Do you even listen to yourselves? This is an extremely short website launch delay, such as happens, well, almost every time a website is launched. Nothing more. There's nothing "off the tracks" about it. It has no effect whatsoever on how this law or the systems it puts in place will operate in the long term.
I'm not sure which is falling/failing faster at this point.... Obama or Obamacare! But one thing is for certain, they have one word in common.
Democrats are going to ride Obama and Obamacare all the way to the bottom come 2014. The train wreck will be in full swing and we know the economy will still suck or be worse due to Obamacare. Yeah.... 2014 is lookin ggood right now... for the Republicans that is. Somehow I doublt all those union members will be out in strength for the Democrats. More likely just sitting at home watching Republican after Republican get elected.
What has the GOP got to offer. Answer= NOTHING!!!!
@Rick McDaniel
The plan simply keeps getting delay after delay, because it simply stinks.
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You said the same thing about electric cars a few years ago.
One word , " TESLA "
Hey Rick, list 5 things about the ACA that "stinks". I bet you can't do it.
Why??????? I don't think so.
All the trillions for wars !! all the billions for aid in the middle east?? N. Korea?? Africa?? the world!! then righty and lefty debate over spending $$ a Quote from MR. Nice Guy( Plus they only come around to the poor folks
When they run they campaign and they lack votes
Once you vote em in they don't know
Once you vote em in they can't do jack for you
I guess it's true when they tell me you don't fight fair
You turn my ghetto into a seething messy nightmare
they said he'd open opportunities
But to me ain't no open opportunities
So shut your mickey d's down in my communities
Cos it ain't helping feed me or my family
And that's the reala)
almost like standing in line waiting to get vacinated back in the day just have to take things on faith