As these COBRA cases illustrate, COBRA compliance is a sticky issue! Here are three lessons from 2011 to keep you out of trouble in 2012! 

COBRA Compliance Case #1: Notice the power of COBRA notifications.

Many COBRA disputes hinge on one critical factor: If and when the COBRA notice was sent, and if it can be proven. In fact, this was the deciding factor in the case of Brooks v. AAA Cooper Transportation*. In this case, the benefits specialist personally placed the employee’s COBRA election notice in the employer’s outgoing mail, and produced a signed and appropriately-dated copy of the COBRA notice. In another case, Hearst v. Progressive Foam Technologies, Inc.*, the post office helped prove that the former employee received timely COBRA election notice. In this instance, the employer’s COBRA TPA presented outgoing COBRA notices to a Post Office clerk, along with a manifest list naming each person receiving the COBRA notice. The clerk then verified and stamped the manifest to provide proof of mailing.

Small Employers: Get Informed about Mini COBRA

It hasn’t been widely published, but in addition to complying with federal COBRA requirements, all employers need to be aware of their state COBRA compliance requirements, often known as mini COBRA laws. Did you know that in many states, there are new requirements impacting employers with fewer than 20 employees?

How PPACA will influence COBRA administration as we know it

In today’s economy, COBRA administration is more important than ever. A January 24 article from Gallup.com reports that the percentage of Americans lacking health insurance climbed to 17.1% in 2011. This is the highest percentage recorded since Gallup and Healthways began tracking in 2008. 

Love is in the air today and a few sticky COBRA situations are brewing too.

One of the qualifying events for COBRA is the divorce or legal separation of a covered employee. When love goes wrong and a newly-divorced spouse loses coverage, he or she may be entitled to benefits under COBRA. Seems straight-forward, but here’s the problem: COBRA coverage can be expensive and often the still-insured spouse is ordered to pay for this coverage as part of the divorce settlement.

Have questions regarding COBRA administration?  Our COBRA webinars make COBRA training easy!  Make time in your schedule and don’t miss out on these insightful tips to keep you current with COBRA administration compliance.  

According to the Wall Street Journal, there are now almost 11 million people collecting disability benefits (Dec. 27, “Jobless Tap Disability Fund”), and at least a few of those people are probably collecting COBRA too. Does the thought of coordinating Social Security Disability (SSD) and COBRA intimidate you?  If so, you aren’t alone! Coordination of SSD and COBRA can be an overwhelming task if you don’t have a few COBRA-tricks up your sleeve.  Below are three COBRA solutions to help you navigate effortlessly: 

With W2 season upon us, a few of you might be looking for some COBRA guidelines about how to report the value of health coverage on your W-2 forms.

Does Your Company Have A $24,000 Health Insurance Overpayment Lurking?