Tags: cobra administration, cobra conundrums, cobra, cobra notices, aca, affordable care act and cobra

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The health insurance exchanges opened last week, drawing a great deal of interest and some poor reviews. Unfortunately, heavy traffic caused functional difficulties for many.

Tags: cobra administration, PPACA update, cobra notices, exchanges impact on COBRA benefits, exchange notices

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

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.

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

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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.

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

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