What are employers with 50 or more employees required to do under the Affordable Care Act?
Mia Phillips
Updated on March 01, 2026
Employers with 50 or more full-time and/or FTE employees must offer affordable/minimum value medical coverage to their full-time employees and their dependents up to the end of the month in which they turn age 26, or they may be subject to penalties.
Which provision of the Affordable Care Act requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide affordable health insurance or pay a penalty?
4980H, added by ACA, requires employers with at least 50 full-time and/or full-time equivalent employees to offer affordable health care coverage that provides a minimum level of coverage, or pay a penalty.
What are the requirements for Obama care?
To qualify for Obamacare subsidies you must meet the following criteria:
- You are currently living in the United States.
- You are a US citizen or legal resident.
- You are not currently incarcerated.
- Your income is no more than 400% (or 500% in 2021 and 2022) of the FPL.
Can an employer with more than 50 employees purchase health insurance?
Employers with more than 50 cannot purchase health insurance coverage for its employees through the Small Business Health Options Program – better known as the SHOP Marketplace. However, Employers that have exactly 50 employees can purchase coverage for their employees through the SHOP.
What are the rules for small employers with fewer than 50 employees?
If you have fewer than 50 employees, but are a member of a group with a certain level of common or related ownership with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, you are subject to the rules for large employers. Here are the responsibilities and benefits for small employers under the health care law:
How many people have signed up for Obamacare so far?
Biden has already reopened enrollment in the federal Obamacare exchange and beefed up marketing, outreach and assistance in signing up for policies. About 1.2 million people so far have signed up on the federal exchange for 2021 coverage during the special enrollment period, which runs from mid-February through mid-August.
How many people have enrolled in Obamacare plans for 2021?
The Affordable Care Act has had the greatest impact on the individual market, which was largely unregulated prior to the health reform law. Some 11.3 million people were enrolled in Obamacare plans for 2021, as of February.