Though employers are not required to educate employees about their individual responsibilities under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is helpful to know about the individual mandate.
The individual responsibility requirement (also known as the individual mandate) became effective for most people as of January 1, 2014. Under the individual mandate, most people residing in the U.S. are required to have minimum essential coverage or they must pay a penalty. Many individuals will be eligible for financial assistance through premium tax credits (also known as premium subsidies) to help them purchase coverage if they buy coverage through the health insurance Marketplace (also known as the Exchange).