Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, certain small businesses with 10 to 25 full-time-equivalent employees may qualify for a tax credit for contributing to their employees' health coverage.

3. Will I be required to provide health care to my employees?

Employers with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees will be required to offer their full-time employees a "minimum essential coverage" health benefits package starting in 2014 or pay a penalty for not doing so. Employers who have fewer than 50 full-time-equivalents are not subject to the law.

The threshold is determined by the following formula, which you would calculate on a monthly basis:  Number of full-time employees (defined as those who average 30+ hours a week for that month) + All hours worked by part-time employees that month (120 hours) =  Number of full-time equivalents.

4. Do I have to provide coverage for my part-time employees?

No. Part-time employees are counted only in determining whether an employer meets the
small-business threshold for coverage under the law. In no case do employers have to provide health care coverage for part-time employees or pay penalties for part-time employees.

5. If I provide coverage, do I have to offer it to my new full-time employees on day one.

No. Employers subject to the law in 2014 are allowed a waiting period of 90 days without penalty. On day 91, they must provide new hires coverage or pay the penalty for not doing so.