Automatic Enrollment for Health Plans Has Been Repealed

Budget legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama on November 2, 2015, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, repeals the controversial automatic enrollment provision under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 18A of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), added by the ACA, directed employers with more than 200 full time employees to automatically enroll new full time employees in one of the employer’s health benefits plans (subject to any waiting period authorized by law), and to continue the enrollment of current employees in a health benefits plan offered through the employer. This requirement, which had yet to take effect, was riddled with concerns and questions regarding how these employers would effectuate administration. The Budget Bill also sharply increased the amount of premiums employers pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, which will be detailed in a separate article.