This week, we're sharing an article provided by Meredith K. Olafson, community moderator at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Tags: cobra administration, Affordable Care Act update, affordable care act, health insurance marketplace, affordable care act updates

Part-time and seasonal workers have been an integral part of business for decades. Large retail chains, supermarket chains, restaurant and food chains, and hospitality services all employ large numbers of part-time employees.

Tags: ppaca, cobra coverage, COBRA software, COBRA qualifying event, ppaca exchanges, cobra eligible workers

Tags: cobra administration, cobra conundrums, cobra administrator, cobra bob, cobra coverage, hipaa certificates of creditable coverage, certificates of creditable coverage

Critics of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) have been concerned about the recent mandate delay, suggesting it will put everyone on the honor system for income verification and qualification for the tax credits. Because the IRS can pay these tax credits in advance to help consumers buy coverage, critics claim it’s an open invitation to fraud and abuse.

Tags: cobra administration, PPACA update, healthcare exchange income verification, insurance tax credits

COBRA CONUNDRUMS reprinted from the July, 2013 issue of Health Insurance Underwriter Magazine featuring our very own Robert Meyers.

Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra conundrums, COBRA outsourcing

Business owners across the country got some unexpected breathing room last week when the Obama administration announced it would delay implementing the employer mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) until 2015. Technically, you’re still supposed to provide coverage for full-time workers starting January 1, 2014 if you have 50 or more employees. But if you don’t, you won’t be penalized for another year.

Tags: ppaca, employer mandate, affordable care act, PPACA compliance, COBRA outsourcing, outsourcing COBRA administration, ppaca employer mandate

This week, our blog article is provided by our friend Jason Cogdill at ProBenefits.

IRS Notices Released This Week Address Individual Mandate & Subsidy Details

On Wednesday, the IRS released two important notices clarifying individual rights and responsibilities in 2014. Both are short, and I recommend reading when you have an opportunity (each is linked in this section). In Notice 2013-42, the IRS provides transition relief from the individual mandate for employees eligible for a group plan that operates on a non-calendar plan year. Prior to this transition relief, an employee in a non-calendar plan that waived coverage at 2013 enrollment could be subject to an individual tax penalty for not having minimum essential coverage during the period between 1/1/14 and the employer’s 2014 renewal. With this ruling, the individual will not be penalized for the lack of coverage prior to employer’s 2014 renewal. In the Notice, the IRS cites as its rationale the qualified transition relief available to employers offering non-calendar year plans as well as the ability of an employer to permit election changes during the exchange open enrollment period. Examples are listed in the notice.

Tags: cobra administration, cobra blog, health care reform, cobraguard

COBRA CONUNDRUMS reprinted from the October, 2012 issue of Health Insurance Underwriter Magazine featuring our very own Robert Meyers.

Tags: cobra administration, cobra conundrums, cobra administrator, cobra bob, cobra coverage, cobra overpayment, cobra payment

Workplace wellness programs used to consist of a few wall posters encouraging healthy behavior or maybe even a gym at the office. But employers are increasingly turning to more incentives and penalties to encourage healthier choices. In fact, according to a recent survey from Fidelity Investments and the National Business Group on Health, almost 90% of employers offer some kind of wellness incentives to their employees.

Tags: ppaca, cobra, PPACA update, wellness incentives, cobra developments

Tags: cobra administration, HR issues, COBRA notice, PPACA update, employer notifications