NORWICH – With national health care reform now the law of the land, small business owners are striving to understand all that the new law requires. Last week, several small business owners gathered at Park Place Restaurant in Norwich for a special presentation and counsel from United Advisors, LLC, subdivision of National Financial Partners.

On the table, hot-button issues that are alarming to many small business. Local entrepreneurs raised questions regarding the individual mandate that requires everyone to have health insurance by 2014 under the new law; penalties for those who don’t obtain health care; and the responsibilities of business owners to offer health care coverage to all employees.

“Health Care is here,” opened presenter and employee benefit consultant Abel Mendes. “And every time there’s a mandate associated, there’s also a cost involved.”

While some new implications for health care are set to take place in 2013, Mendes noted that consulting agencies like United Advisors are thriving to stay updated as there are changes to them almost on a daily basis. “Attempts at repeal and modification are ongoing,” he said. “A key focus is on the election in November, but it is still the law and federal implementation is moving forward.”

Regardless the ongoing efforts of repeal, and the government initiative to move forward with health care reform, there are a lot of uncertainties, including what employers’ health care plans might look like and what some of the costs will be. Still, many of the changes in federal regulations have been in place in New York State for years, Mendes explained.

“New York State is one of the most regulated states for health insurance. Other states are not as heavily regulated ... A lot of the new mandates we already have,” said Mendes.