In a press conference held on Thursday, September 26, 2013, the Obama Administration announced a delay impacting online enrollment in the Small Business Health Options Program, better known as the SHOP Exchange. Online enrollment for the SHOP Exchange will now be available on November 1, 2013. Coverage purchased by December 15, 2013 will still be effective January 1, 2014.
SHOP Exchanges will provide a new avenue for small businesses to purchase group health insurance for employees. Despite this delay of the online enrollment function, small businesses will still be able to apply for coverage through a SHOP Exchange on October 1, but will be required to mail or fax their SHOP enrollment information to the SHOP. This delay impacts the SHOP Exchanges in the 34 states that have chosen not to operate their own state-based SHOP Exchange. Some states that elected to operate their own small business health insurance exchanges, including Maryland and Washington, have delayed access to their state-based small business health insurance exchanges.
For more information about the SHOP online enrollment delay, the Washington Post, CNN, New York Times (subscription required), and Wall Street Journal (subscription required) report.
