Responding to U.S. employers’ concerns about healthcare reform, Aflac has launched a new Web site to bring them up to speed.
The site features educational materials, toolkits and guidance designed to help businesses meet upcoming Affordable Care Act deadlines and requirements.
"Business leaders are confused about health care reform and for good reason — it is complex and as the law is implemented, it can be increasingly difficult for them to understand their options and the specific actions they need to take," said Michael Zuna, Aflac’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "By using the tools on our site and speaking to our nationwide network of agents, employers can not only stay up to date and understand key decision points, but also obtain information that will help them make the best benefits decisions for their organizations and employees."
The health care reform site is intended to explain ACA and its ramifications in clear, easy-to-understand language. Site visitors will find a variety of tools and resources. Materials include a health care reform communications toolkit that provides employers with resources to meet the October 1 deadline for informing employees about the state-based health insurance exchanges, an employer's guide that explains health care reform and its effect on U.S. businesses as well as various tips for helping employees understand the impact of the ACA.
Aflac said the materials on the site were informed by the 2013 Aflac WorkForces Report, a broad survey of employers and employees that revealed the extent of the confusion surrounding the ACA and the new health insurance marketplaces. More than three-fourths of the employees responding to the survey agreed that health care reform is too complicated to understand, while only 27 percent of the employers surveyed indicated that they have a good understanding of the legislation.
In addition, 55 percent of the employees who took part in the survey said they'd done nothing to prepare for reform-driven changes to their benefits plans.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ga., Aflac is the largest provider of voluntary and guaranteed renewable insurance in the U.S.
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