Elected borough officials from the region met at the Coplay Municipal Building last Thursday for an update and briefing on the federal Affordable Care Act, known commonly as ObamaCare. The meeting was sponsored by the Middle Eastern Counties Association of Boroughs.

Erica Grimm, vice president for the Pennsylvania Benefits Division of Keystone Insurers Group, said as employers of borough personnel, it is important elected officials to understand the federal law.

Present were MECAB President Gerald C. Yob, Freemansburg; Coplay Mayor Joseph Bundra and Coplay Councilman David Royer; Northampton Mayor Thomas Reenock; Bath Mayor Donald Wunderler; North Catasauqua Mayor William, J. Molchany Jr.; Coopersburg Councilman Rich Nalichowski; Wilson Borough Councilman Kim McGowan and Wilson Borough Mayor David Perruso.

Grimm said the Affordable Care Act was signed into law March 23, 2010. A week later the Health Care & Education Affordability Act was signed into law March 30, 2010.

"The intent of the law is to provide every U.S. citizen affordable health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan or on an individual basis," Grimm said.

Grimm said the law is intended to restrict unfair insurance practices. The purpose is to make it easier to compare and buy health insurance through exchanges for both employers and individuals.

Reviewing the plan, Grimm said it includes coverage for dependents to age 26. The requirement applies before Jan. 1, 2014, only if the adult child is not eligible to enroll in another plan.

Grimm told the group the bigger changes will occur in 2014. The employer shared responsibility "pay or play" is delayed until 2015 and will apply to all employers with 50 or more full-time workers. Such employers will be required to maintain a maximum level of coverage or be subject to fines of $2,000 for each full-time employee, excluding the first 30 full-time employees.

Coverage, Grimm said, is deemed unaffordable if the contribution exceeds 9.5 percent of the household income.

Also postponed until 2015 is the impact of the delay for employers.

Beginning in January 2014, the insurance exchange will open to small businesses.

Other provisions that will apply in 2014 include new mandates applying to all plans, such as grandfathered plans, i.e. lifetime maximum and preventive care, 90-day limitation of waiting periods (a new hire waiting period cannot exceed 90 days).