Hi Again Everyone - I agree with Donna completely. I would just like to be able to plan ahead and would love it if the MLA or ALA could help small and medium libraries understand what it means for our staffing. Just from yesterday's replies I got a wide range of conflicting responses... I have been told: It doesn't apply to groups of less than 50 It does apply to groups of less than 50 if you are offering some staff insurance then you need to offer it to all staff working more than 30 hours or you will be fined $3000-$5000 for every person on staff Part-time Hours don't need to be cut at all Part-time Hours need to be cut now Part-time Hours don't need to be cut until January 2014 The attorneys we have asked tell us to call the insurance companies. Our insurance company said that nobody is an expert on this topic and it is very unclear as to how this will work out for employers and give other such vague responses. So when Donna says this topic is time-consuming and frustrating I agree completely. That is why I posted hoping someone out there had a clear answer with a valid source. Thanks, Andrea Andrea Estelle Library Director "Brighten The Corner Where You Are" 401 Dix Street, Otsego, MI 49078 (269) 694-9690 http://www.otsegolibrary.org/ -----Original Message----- From: Donna Alward [mailto:dalward@hlpl.lib.mi.us] Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 10:18 PM To: Andrea Estelle Cc: 'MichLibList Serve' Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries Brings to mind when what became PA152 was progressing through the Michigan legislature... I was given various opinions as to whether libraries were included or intended to be included in what was to become a limit on expenditures for medical health care benefits. Seeking a definitive answer was time consuming and frustrating. Wonder if the Michigan Library Association (even though Obamacare is a federal law) might, in its role as an an advocate for its members, inquire and work with the American Library Association to get some concrete answers. If like PA152, details and procedures are not exactly clear, action by both the state and national organizations may bring results in a more timely way, which would allow individual libraries time to plan. Donna J. Alward, Library Director Houghton Lake Public Library 4431 W. Houghton Lake Dr. Houghton Lake, MI 48629 Phone: 989.366.9230 Fax: 989.366.0063 URL: www.hlpl.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Andrea Estelle <aestelle@otsegolibrary.org> To: 'MichLibList Serve' <michlib-l@mail.mcls.org> Sent: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:01:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries Hi Everyone, Does anyone have a clear, valid source that explains how the upcoming rules for Obamacare relate to a small library? We have 13 staff and 2 are full time with insurance. My question in regards to it is: Do the staff working over 30 hours need to be working less than 30 hours so that we don't get fined for not offering them insurance? And if so, when does the reduced hours take effect: now or in 2014? I have gotten a lot of conflicting feedback on this topic and insurance companies are calling it a "grey area" so I wondered if there is any source out there with a clear explanation. Thank you for your help! Andrea Andrea Estelle Library Director "Brighten The Corner Where You Are" <http://www.otsegolibrary.org/> Home 401 Dix Street, Otsego, MI 49078 (269) 694-9690 http://www.otsegolibrary.org/

The gentleman who has been overseeing our insurance gave me some very clear information about the Affordable Care Act--except for this one question! He told me he would let me know when a clear guideline was established (about the 30 hour a week issue) and I haven't heard from him yet. Maybe I'll shoot him another message today!! Ann @ Allegan On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 8:43 AM, Andrea Estelle <aestelle@otsegolibrary.org>wrote:

Hi Again Everyone - I agree with Donna completely. I would just like to be able to plan ahead and would love it if the MLA or ALA could help small and medium libraries understand what it means for our staffing.

Just from yesterday's replies I got a wide range of conflicting responses...

I have been told: It doesn't apply to groups of less than 50 It does apply to groups of less than 50 if you are offering some staff insurance then you need to offer it to all staff working more than 30 hours or you will be fined $3000-$5000 for every person on staff Part-time Hours don't need to be cut at all Part-time Hours need to be cut now Part-time Hours don't need to be cut until January 2014

The attorneys we have asked tell us to call the insurance companies. Our insurance company said that nobody is an expert on this topic and it is very unclear as to how this will work out for employers and give other such vague responses. So when Donna says this topic is time-consuming and frustrating I agree completely. That is why I posted hoping someone out there had a clear answer with a valid source. Thanks, Andrea

Andrea Estelle Library Director "Brighten The Corner Where You Are"

401 Dix Street, Otsego, MI 49078 (269) 694-9690 http://www.otsegolibrary.org/

-----Original Message----- From: Donna Alward [mailto:dalward@hlpl.lib.mi.us] Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 10:18 PM To: Andrea Estelle Cc: 'MichLibList Serve' Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries

Brings to mind when what became PA152 was progressing through the Michigan legislature...

I was given various opinions as to whether libraries were included or intended to be included in what was to become a limit on expenditures for medical health care benefits. Seeking a definitive answer was time consuming and frustrating.

Wonder if the Michigan Library Association (even though Obamacare is a federal law) might, in its role as an an advocate for its members, inquire and work with the American Library Association to get some concrete answers. If like PA152, details and procedures are not exactly clear, action by both the state and national organizations may bring results in a more timely way, which would allow individual libraries time to plan.

Donna J. Alward, Library Director Houghton Lake Public Library 4431 W. Houghton Lake Dr. Houghton Lake, MI 48629 Phone: 989.366.9230 Fax: 989.366.0063 URL: www.hlpl.org

----- Original Message ----- From: Andrea Estelle <aestelle@otsegolibrary.org> To: 'MichLibList Serve' <michlib-l@mail.mcls.org> Sent: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:01:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have a clear, valid source that explains how the upcoming rules for Obamacare relate to a small library? We have 13 staff and 2 are full time with insurance.

My question in regards to it is: Do the staff working over 30 hours need to be working less than 30 hours so that we don't get fined for not offering them insurance? And if so, when does the reduced hours take effect: now or in 2014?

I have gotten a lot of conflicting feedback on this topic and insurance companies are calling it a "grey area" so I wondered if there is any source out there with a clear explanation.

Thank you for your help!

Andrea

Andrea Estelle

Library Director

"Brighten The Corner Where You Are"

<http://www.otsegolibrary.org/> Home

401 Dix Street, Otsego, MI 49078

(269) 694-9690

http://www.otsegolibrary.org/

_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l

-- Ann Perrigo, Director Allegan District Library 331 Hubbard Street Allegan, MI 49010 269 673-4625 aperrigo@alleganlibrary.org <aperrigo@alleganlibrary.org> Good times or bad--your library is here for you!

I was told that this does not take effect until 2014.  I was also told that the information was published rather quietly on the official blog, without news releases of any kind, which is one of the reasons it appears to be difficult to find a clear answer. My information comes from a gentleman regularly helps me with insurance questions and who has a reputable insurance firm in my town.  He was very definite on this point, so I would say with confidence that the following is true:  - Part-time Hours don't need to be cut until January 2014 I am not as clear about how the more/fewer than 50 employees rule will apply, but my impression is that the laws about providing insurance to those working 30 hours or more will apply to all of us sooner or later.  (There has been talk of doing it in phases by applying it to larger companies first, and then later applying the same rules to those with fewer than 50 employees).  This unfortunately continues to be a "gray area." I hope this helps!  And I hope I may be forgiven for poking my nose in from another state - I still appreciate the MichLib listserve greatly and often benefit from your collective wisdom! Hope Nobel Director Jackson County Public Library, WV ________________________________ From: Ann Perrigo <aperrigo@alleganlibrary.org> To: Andrea Estelle <aestelle@otsegolibrary.org> Cc: MichLibList Serve <michlib-l@mail.mcls.org> Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 9:38 AM Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries The gentleman who has been overseeing our insurance gave me some very clear information about the Affordable Care Act--except for this one question!  He told me he would let me know when a clear guideline was established (about the 30 hour a week issue) and I haven't heard from him yet.  Maybe I'll shoot him another message today!! Ann @ Allegan On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 8:43 AM, Andrea Estelle <aestelle@otsegolibrary.org> wrote: Hi Again Everyone -

I agree with Donna completely. I would just like to be able to plan ahead and would love it if the MLA or ALA could help small and medium libraries understand what it means for our staffing.

Just from yesterday's replies I got a wide range of conflicting responses...

I have been told: It doesn't apply to groups of less than 50 It does apply to groups of less than 50 if you are offering some staff insurance then you need to offer it to all staff working more than 30 hours or you will be fined $3000-$5000 for every person on staff Part-time Hours don't need to be cut at all Part-time Hours need to be cut now Part-time Hours don't need to be cut until January 2014

The attorneys we have asked tell us to call the insurance companies. Our insurance company said that nobody is an expert on this topic and it is very unclear as to how this will work out for employers and give other such vague responses. So when Donna says this topic is time-consuming and frustrating I agree completely. That is why I posted hoping someone out there had a clear answer with a valid source. Thanks,

Andrea

Andrea Estelle Library Director "Brighten The Corner Where You Are"

        401 Dix Street, Otsego, MI 49078                     (269) 694-9690            http://www.otsegolibrary.org/

-----Original Message----- From: Donna Alward [mailto:dalward@hlpl.lib.mi.us] Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 10:18 PM To: Andrea Estelle Cc: 'MichLibList Serve' Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries

Brings to mind when what became PA152 was progressing through the Michigan legislature...

I was given various opinions as to whether libraries were included or intended to be included in what was to become a limit on expenditures for medical health care benefits. Seeking a definitive answer was time consuming and frustrating.

Wonder if the Michigan Library Association (even though Obamacare is a federal law) might, in its role as an an advocate for its members, inquire and work with the American Library Association to get some concrete answers. If like PA152, details and procedures are not exactly clear, action by both the state and national organizations may bring results in a more timely way, which would allow individual libraries time to plan.

Donna J. Alward, Library Director Houghton Lake Public Library 4431 W. Houghton Lake Dr. Houghton Lake, MI 48629 Phone: 989.366.9230 Fax: 989.366.0063 URL: www.hlpl.org

----- Original Message ----- From: Andrea Estelle <aestelle@otsegolibrary.org> To: 'MichLibList Serve' <michlib-l@mail.mcls.org> Sent: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:01:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Michlib-l] Obamacare and Small Libraries

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have a clear, valid source that explains how the upcoming rules for Obamacare relate to a small library? We have 13 staff and 2 are full time with insurance.

My question in regards to it is: Do the staff working over 30 hours need to be working less than 30 hours so that we don't get fined for not offering them insurance? And if so, when does the reduced hours take effect: now or in 2014?

I have gotten a lot of conflicting feedback on this topic and insurance companies are calling it a "grey area" so I wondered if there is any source out there with a clear explanation.

Thank you for your help!

Andrea

Andrea Estelle

Library Director

"Brighten The Corner Where You Are"

 <http://www.otsegolibrary.org/> Home

 401 Dix Street, Otsego, MI 49078

 (269) 694-9690

 http://www.otsegolibrary.org/

_______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l

-- Ann Perrigo, Director Allegan District Library 331 Hubbard Street Allegan, MI 49010                               269 673-4625 aperrigo@alleganlibrary.org Good times or bad--your library is here for you! _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l

Hi, Well I just finished watching the archive of the webjunction webinar on healthcare. http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/Libraries_and_Health_Insurance... It's mainly for how libraries can get ready to help patrons coming in for information. Pretty useful webinar for patrons but not really for employers. But I did get a few useful notes. If any of these items are incorrect, please feel free to speak up. Marketplace opens, Oct 1, 13- March 31, 2014 -- everybody without healthcare must enroll in a health plan during this time or have to pay a fee on federal income tax. $95/person or $200/family. After 3/31/14 you can enroll if you have qualifying life event. After this 1st open enrollment, the regular open enrollment will be Oct. 15-Dec. 7 each year. For Michigan we will be using the federal website, https://www.healthcare.gov/ In the Marketplace, users set up an account, and review health plans and enroll. Folks can also enroll over the phone by calling the call center, 1-800-318-2596 After Oct. 1 there will be groups called, Community Assisters, for each state that will be available for help. These groups are being funded by grants being decided right now. As to the question of 30 hours and whether employers have to offer health care. I think the confusion is that health care act is considering anybody who regularly works 30 hours a week as full-time. And the requirement isn't 50 FT, its 50 FTE's. I just looked at the state aid report data, and only about 20 libraries (though this number will be higher since FT is 30 hours not 40 hours -- I guess we just work too hard in Michigan) reported over 50 FTE and expect that they already offer health insurance. They have a nice glossary on the website, and here is where they define FT. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/full-time-employee/ There is also a lot of information on http://www.webjunction.org/; again mostly geared at helping patrons. I, like you, would like to be better informed as a employer and to help my business patrons as well. good luck, lise -- Lise Mitchell, Director Grand Ledge Area District Library 131 E. Jefferson Street Grand Ledge, MI 48837 gladldirector@gmail.com 517-622-3018 direct 517-627-7014 Library 517-627-6276 fax