Beginning in 2016, the SHOP exchange will be available to businesses with how many full-time equivalent employees?

The correct answer is that the SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program) exchange became available to businesses with 50 full-time equivalent employees beginning in 2016. The SHOP exchange was specifically designed to help small businesses provide health insurance to their employees.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the definition of a small business for the purposes of the SHOP exchange is one that employs 1 to 50 full-time equivalent employees. This aligns with the provisions laid out by the ACA, allowing small businesses to choose a health plan from a range of options and potentially qualify for tax credits to assist with the costs.

The choice of 25 is incorrect because it underestimates the threshold established by the ACA. Similarly, 75 and 100 are incorrect as they suggest thresholds for larger businesses beyond the scope of the small group coverage provided by the SHOP exchange, thus not applicable to the initial parameters set for the program.