As an employer, you face tough questions from employees every day – particularly now as you both navigate the changing landscape of health care reform. If the “age 26” question hasn’t come up yet, you’ll likely encounter it soon. To help you be prepared, we’ve prepared the hypothetical scenario below.
Tags: cobra blog, COBRA eligibility at age 26, COBRA questions, age 26 rule
National Employee Appreciation Day is this Friday. In honor of the event, you may want let your employees know that you appreciate them this week. But, why stop there when you can express employee appreciation all year long?
Tags: cobra administration, Affordable Care Act update, cobra blog, hr best practices, employee appreciation
Here’s another great update from our friend Jason M. Cogdill, Corporate Counsel & Benefits Attorney at ProBenefits, Inc.
Tags: employer mandate, cobra blog, affordable care act, employer mandate guidance, cobra guard
Here’s another great update from our friend Jason M. Cogdill, Corporate Counsel & Benefits Attorney at ProBenefits, Inc.
Tags: cobra administration, employer mandate, cobra blog, affordable care act, aca
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
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
A recent rule Affordable Care Act (ACA) rule limits the out-of-pocket expenses that group health care plan providers can ask employees to pay.
Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra blog, PPACA update
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
The Health Insurance Exchanges required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are beginning to show signs of interest among Americans—nearly half—according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Member Health Plan Study released just last week.
Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra blog, COBRA solutions, COBRA outsourcing, health exchange
The Pre-Existing Condition Plan (PCIP) — which allowed those with pre-existing health conditions the ability to obtain insurance if they had been denied coverage — has cut benefits for enrollees and suspended the processing of new applicants in 23 states effective immediately.
Tags: ppaca, cobra administration, cobra blog, COBRA solutions, COBRA outsourcing, PCIP
