The Affordable Care Act established new tax credits for certain small employers to make it more affordable to cover their employees. Eligible employers can achieve even greater savings by using these tax credits in tandem with participating in the Health Connector’s new ConnectWell program, which qualifies them for up to an additional 15 percent premium rebate. Employers can get up to a 50 percent federal tax credit when they buy health insurance through the Health Connector, if they: have 25 or fewer full-time employees, and pay average annual wages below $50,000, and pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance. The Health Connector also exclusively offers ConnectWell, a free program offered to eligible employers enrolled in a small business group health plan through the Health Connector. Employers who are not the sole owner and employee of a company and who have fewer than 25 employees total are eligible for the program. Eligible employers who participate may qualify for a ConnectWell rebate of up to 15 percent on their group’s health insurance premium contribution for coverage purchased through the Health Connector.

The ACA provides additional tools for covering workers, which can help Massachusetts employers ensure that their workforces have the health insurance they need. For example: National health reform established new tax credits for certain small employers to make it more affordable to cover their employees (eligible employers can achieve even greater savings by using these tax credits in tandem with participating in the Health Connector’s ConnectWell program, which qualifies them for an additional 15 percent premium discount) Very low-income employees who cannot afford their employer’s coverage may be newly eligible for MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid program) without penalties for employers The ACA newly offers “one-stop” shopping for medical and dental coverage through the Health Connector The ACA invests in initiatives and innovations designed to improve the health care delivery system, which will create a healthier workforce and cost savings for Massachusetts’ employers In 2017, the Health Connector began offering small businesses new ways to offer health insurance to their employees, including options that allow the business to offer a number of plans to employees.

National health reform includes new responsibilities and opportunities for employers. The law provides incentives to help make offering health insurance coverage to workers easier and, in some cases, more affordable. The ACA helps level the playing field for Massachusetts’ employers, setting nationwide standards for benefits and consumer protections that had already been required or commonplace in the Commonwealth.