October is the first time the public will see the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in action. At least that is what the schedule says.
On October 1, 17 state-run exchanges and 34 federal exchanges have begun accepting applications for health insurance. Things may not go well that day—or that month—but any bad news will be drowned out by a congressional uproar over the budget, the debt limit, and the war in the Middle East.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes an array of new regulations on employers, as well as requiring them to report to government agencies about meeting those requirements.