Insurance

Health care reform: California weighs in on essential health benefits

04/23/2013

States will play an important role in implementing the provisions of the ACA. For California employers with between 50 and 100 employees, recent legislative developments may add some complexity to ongoing discussions about the ACA’s “shared responsibility” or “play-or-pay” requirements.

Small biz insurance choices limited in 2014

04/12/2013

In a tacit admission that the Affordable Care Act is suffering teething pains, the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month postponed for a year plans to offer a variety of affordable health insurance plans to small businesses starting in 2014. In many states the Small Business Health Options Program will be limited to a single insurance plan in the first year.

Health care reform: Prepare now for changes coming in 2014

04/11/2013

Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ACA. Since then, a primary concern for employers has been how to effectively prepare for the employer mandate requiring most employers to provide health insurance benefits. Although the mandate takes effect in 2014, implementation of several requirements will depend on circumstances that unfold this year.

Get more from high-deductible health plans

04/08/2013

More employers are turning to high-deductible health insurance plans. But don’t automatically assume that they’ll cut your organization’s costs.

Don’t get stung by Obamacare’s play-or-pay provisions

04/03/2013

The IRS has released regulations for determining the hefty penalties that apply when Affordable Care Act-covered employers fail to offer health insurance to employees starting in 2014. The rules seem daunting, but it’s critical to understand them.

Learn how to count employees under ACA’s employer mandate

03/21/2013

Oddly, determining how many employees you have is one of the trickiest parts of the health care reform law. The answer matters: You could wind up paying big penalties next year if you miscalculate.

Health benefit safe harbors put Payroll in the driver’s seat

03/18/2013

The Affordable Care Act requires employers of 50 or more full-time employees to offer them affordable health benefits—or pay free-rider penalties. Benefits are affordable if employees’ contributions don’t exceed 9.5% of their household income and employers pay at least 60%. The IRS has created three optional affordability safe harbors.

Layoff and then a walkout: What’s our COBRA obligation?

03/12/2013

Q. Our business recently was forced to implement layoffs—and most of our remaining employees walked off the job. All were given a COBRA notice, but only one chose to take the coverage. Since this was a group insurance policy and only one person will now be insured, the insurer is canceling our policy. What’s our responsibility to that ex-employee?

The feds say ‘never mind’ on ACA health exchange notices

03/12/2013

The Affordable Care Act health care reform law required employers to begin notifying employees on March 1 about the availability of state-based exchanges as an option for buying health insurance. But the DOL has temporarily rescinded the notice requirement.

Benefits alert: Health insurance exchange notice requirement postponed

03/01/2013

The health care reform law required employers to begin notifying employees on March 1 about the availability of state-based exchanges as an option for buying health insurance. But acknowledging the obvious—that the state exchanges are nowhere near ready to go live—the Department of Labor has temporarily rescinded the notice requirement.