Two giant reform requirements are forcing employers to reconsider how they'll offer health care coverage and whether it'll be cheaper just to drop their plans.

Employers already have been complying with a number of health care reform laws. But the most concerning – ones that have long-term implications – are the so-called "pay or play" and "Cadillac tax" provisions. These will be effective in 2014 and 2018, respectively.

Under "pay or play," employers with 50 or more full-time employees (those working 30 or more hours per week) must provide plans that meet minimum coverage levels – at least 60 percent actuarial value – or face penalties. If they decide not to provide group health coverage and at least one full-time employee (FTE) receives federally subsidized coverage through a health exchange, the employer will have to pay a $2,000 "free rider" penalty for each FTE. The employer does not have to pay penalties for the first 30 employees, however.