Affordable Care Act - Information

Human Resources

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Health Care Reform law, is federal legislation passed in 2010. This law is complex, multi-faceted, and has an impact on both employers and individuals.

Nothing in the ACA requires an employer to provide medical coverage to any employee. However, under the employer mandate provisions of the ACA, large employers, such as the University, that do not offer compliant medical coverage to ACA full-time employees, and their dependents, may have to pay a penalty to the government. There are special rules for determining an employee’s full-time status for purposes of the ACA and the requirement to cover dependents does not require coverage of the spouse of any ACA full-time employee.

In order to avoid potential penalties, the University will need to offer medical coverage to its ACA full-time employees that is both “affordable” and provides “minimum value.” Coverage is “affordable” if your cost for employee-only coverage under the lowest-value plan offered by the University is no more than 9.5% of your family income. Coverage provides “minimum value.” if the plan’s share of the total cost of allowed benefits is at least 60 percent.

The law also requires most Americans to have medical coverage beginning January 1, 2014. People who do not have coverage beginning in 2014 may have to pay additional taxes. If you are not eligible for benefits from the University, you should explore other coverage options, such as coverage through a program offered to your spouse or even through a parent’s plan.

Individual policies are available through state and federally-operated health insurance exchanges – called the Insurance Marketplace. Some individuals may qualify for premium and cost-sharing reductions if they purchase medical coverage through the Insurance Marketplace.

Individuals have the option of purchasing coverage under a qualified health plan offered in the Insurance Marketplace. You can access information about the ACA and the Insurance Marketplace at https://www.healthcare.gov.

The University does not contribute anything toward the cost if you purchase coverage under a Marketplace-qualified health plan. However, you may be eligible for assistance in paying for Marketplace coverage, depending upon a number of factors, including your household income and whether you were offered employer coverage that meets certain requirements, such as “affordability” and “minimum value.”

You can access information about the ACA by visiting the State of Delaware’s website. The State has announced the qualified health plans and rates for the Delaware Insurance Marketplace.

As of January 1, 2014, the ACA requires that you have medical coverage. If you are currently eligible for benefits from the University, waived medical coverage as a new employee, or during the annual open enrollment period, and do not have medical coverage from another source like your spouse’s or parent’s plan, the University’s medical plan may be your best option for coverage. For assistance regarding the University's health insurance plans, email hrhelp@udel.edu.

On your pay stub, in the University Benefit Costs section, refer to the Employee Pays column for your out-of-pocket, per-pay benefits costs. Please also see your Flex Benefits webview for a summary of your deductions and University contributions.

Please review our posted frequently asked questions to learn more.

Email: aca-help@udel.edu.