Meanwhile, employees are looking to their managers and human resources departments for insight on how the law will effect them. It's likely they've heard different interpretations of the Affordable Care Act from different media channels, friends, family, and co-workers.
Remember how the telephone game works? There's a good chance that somewhere in the chain of communication, someone got something wrong. Your have an opportunity to set your employees straight. Here are four steps to communicate the ins and outs of the Affordable Care Act:
Are you confident about your firm's compliance with the Affordable Care Act? Do you have a deep bench of experts who can answer questions about the law? If your answer to either of these questions is "no," it's time to start your homework!
The White House launched the Health Care Changes Wizard on Aug. 1. The site is targeted at employers that want to discover how changes specifically apply to their type and size of business. This time line on the health insurance marketplace (a one-page PDF) also is useful.
HNI also offers many blog posts and workshop recordings on health care reform and the Affordable Care Act.
Obviously, before you can help employees understand health care reform, you need to feel confident about your knowledge of the law! Understanding health care reform may take some time, but it's worth it.
For maximum communications effectiveness, planning your message involves a three-part attack:
Be prepared with FAQs, websites, and cheat sheets to share with employees. They will no doubt have specific questions about how health care reform applies to them.
Consider developing hypothetical employee personas to explain how the law could affect different types of employees. For instance, one persona could be Mark, a healthy, 30-something professional who carries health coverage benefits for his young family. Another persona could be Mary, a baby boomer with a chronic health condition who sees many health specialists.
These pretend employees likely have different questions about costs and health care related to the Affordable Care Act. Address those questions and share the answers with an employee audience. Aim to make the message relatable.
Roll health care reform messaging into information about open enrollment. And while you're on the subject of wellness with your employees, promote your health programs and resources. Now is a good time to reinvigorate interest in workforce wellness. Healthy employees are happy and more productive employees.
Having a plan to communicate information about health care reform will break through confusion over changes to health plans. Head off employees' anxiety over changes with thoughtful and effective messaging. Understanding health care reform is a path you will walk together.
Pay or Play Health Care Reform Penalties Delayed Until 2015
Health Care Reform Fee is Due July 31
6 New Health Care Reform Taxes and Fees
Final Rules for Wellness Programs Under Health Care Reform Released