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

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

Tags: cobra administration, cobra conundrums, cobra administrator, COBRA qualifying event, cobra and divorce

Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, health benefit update

As part of the new regulatory expansion regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office issued its final ruling regarding the modification of the act’s security, privacy, and breach notification requirements. The final rule, which came into effect on March 26, 2013, requires that all employers, vendors, and health care providers become compliant by September 23rd or face significant financial penalties up to $50,000 per violation and $1.5 million for multiple infractions of the same kind.

Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra blog, PPACA update

Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra blog, PPACA update

With our economy ever in flux, it’s not unusual for a small business to be juggling several COBRA participants at any given time. As your HR department has probably surmised by now, communicating with former employees and retirees is not the easiest task - and getting them to make their COBRA payments in a timely manner can be especially time consuming.  

Tags: cobra administration, cobra administrator, COBRA guidelines, COBRA outsourcing, COBRA benefit, COBRA payment collection, COBRA best practice

The changing landscape of health care has many employers redefining their health care management strategies. A growing majority are turning to wellness incentives and penalties to proactively keep their employees healthy. In fact, the number of employers planning to implement wellness programs next year is expected rise considerably according to a forthcoming 2013 health care survey by Aon Hewitt due out in April.

Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra blog, COBRA solutions, PPACA compliance, COBRA outsourcing, wellness programs