Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage

I work full time for a small business (fewer than 50 employees). Does my employer have to offer me health benefits?

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No, small businesses are not required to offer health benefits to either full-time or part-time employees, or to their dependents. Small businesses are not subject to tax penalties when they don’t offer health benefits. If your small employer doesn’t offer health benefits, you (and your family) can apply for coverage in the Marketplace; and, if your income is at least 100% of the federal poverty level, you can apply for a premium tax credit that may reduce the cost of coverage in the Marketplace.

While we have made every effort to provide accurate information in these FAQs, people should contact the health insurance Marketplace or Medicaid agency in their state for guidance on their specific circumstances.

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The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.