Despite heavy criticism of the subsidization of Obamacare by employers, the feds are sticking to their guns. However, they are also willing to fire fewer bullets in recognition of the burden the health care law's reinsurance fee places on business.

In final rules outlining an employer's obligations with respect to the fee, the Department of Health and Human Services established specific fees for the first two years of the three-year program. It also agreed to allow employers to pay the fee in two payments, to lessen the financial hit companies would take at the start of a new year.

As outlined in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the fees are intended to generate $25 billion to be used to partially reimburse carriers writing policies in public exchanges for individuals with high health care costs.

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.