Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) — Health Care Reform Law

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as the health care reform law, makes sweeping changes to health care coverage for both employers and individuals.  The PPACA requires all U.S. citizens to have minimum essential coverage either through their employers or through individual coverage beginning on January 1, 2014.  The PPACA requirers employers with more than 50 employees will have penalties for not providing affordable health car coverage.  The PPACA makes some significant changes regarding health coverage that take effect for plan years, beginning after September 23, 2010.