Health Exchange Website For Business Delayed

Maryland's health exchange board approved a plan Monday to allow eligible small businesses to begin offering employees small group health plans and to access federal tax credits in April, but the state is pushing back the launch of a website for the program until January 1, 2015.

The delay puts Maryland's Small Business Health Options Program Exchange on the same timeline as the federal government. It was initially set to open in October, but was delayed until January to fix technical problems. Still, state officials said certified plans and access to tax credits worth up to 50 percent of the employer's contribution toward employee premium costs, will be available directly through carriers, third party administrators and brokers starting on April 1.

"Maryland small businesses will be able to access tax credits to help them cover the cost of health coverage for their employees," said Carolyn Quattrocki, interim executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.
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