COBRA Archives - Page 4 of 7 - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Proposed Regulations Amending the COBRA Notice Requirements

by McDermott Will & Emery | May 8, 2014 | Health and Welfare Plans

On May 2, 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued proposed regulations which seek to amend the notice requirements under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The changes are intended “to better align the provision of guidance under the COBRA notice requirements with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions already in effect, as well as any provisions of federal law that will become applicable in the future.”

Under COBRA, a group health plan must provide participants with a general COBRA notice and COBRA qualified beneficiaries with an election notice. These notices describe a qualified beneficiary’s right to continue coverage under a group health plan. On May 8, 2013, DOL issued Technical Release 2013-02, which included a series of model COBRA notices (see “Notice of Coverage Options Available Through the Exchanges” for more information). These model notices include references to the ACA, noting that some qualified beneficiaries (1) may want to consider and compare health coverage alternatives to COBRA continuation coverage that are available through the ACA exchanges and (2) may also be eligible for a premium tax credit to help pay for the cost of coverage.

The proposed regulations eliminate the current versions of the model notices. However, until the regulations are finalized and effective, the DOL will consider appropriately completed use of the model notices that are currently available on its website to constitute good faith compliance with the notice content requirements of COBRA. Once the current notices are available, they will be posted at the following links:

Note: Use of the model notices is not required.

Finalized ACA Regulations on Transitional Reinsurance Program Premiums and Potential Effects for Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plans

by McDermott Will & Emery | Mar 12, 2013 | Health and Welfare Plans

by Amy M. Gordon, Susan M. Nash and Jacob Mattinson

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released final regulations regarding the transitional reinsurance program fee effective in CY 2014. Effective May 10, 2013, the regulations address the estimated amount of annual contributions that will be paid to HHS from employer-sponsored group health plans, the types of welfare plans that are subject to the fee, the applicability of the fee to COBRA coverage and the treatment of certain retiree benefits.

To read the full article, click here.

IRS Issues Revised Guidance on W-2 Reporting Requirements for Employer-Sponsored Health Plan Coverage

by McDermott Will & Emery | Jan 30, 2012 | Employment, Health and Welfare Plans

by Amy Gordon, Susan Nash and Ashley McCarthy

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued revised guidance, Notice 2011-28, regarding the requirement under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that employers report to employees the cost of their employer-sponsored group health plan coverage on Forms W-2. This requirement applies to calendar year 2012 W-2s, which employees will receive from their employer in 2013.

The guidance provided assistance on calculating aggregate reportable cost. Aggregate cost may be calculated in accordance with one of several methods including the “COBRA applicable premium” method, the “premium charged” method (for fully-insured coverage), or a “modified COBRA premium” method.

In addition to medical coverage, employers must include in the cost of employer-sponsored group health plan coverage, coverage under an Employee Assistance Program, wellness program coverage, on-site medical clinic coverage (but only aggregate reportable cost to the extent that the coverage is provided under a group health plan and the employer charges a premium for such coverage to beneficiaries of federal continuation coverage [e.g., COBRA]), Health Flexible Spending Account coverage (FSA), but only where the employer itself contributes to the FSA or otherwise provides flex credits through a Internal Revenue Code Section 125 cafeteria plan, and coverage under a dental plan or vision plan if such plans are not excepted from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Employers do not need to include in the cost of employer-sponsored group coverage the cost of coverage under a dental plan or vision plan if such plans are excepted from HIPAA, amounts contributed to an Archer medical savings account (MSA) or a Health Savings Account, amounts of any salary reduction election to an FSA, the cost of coverage under a multiemployer plan, cost of coverage under a Health Reimbursement Arrangement not included in aggregate reportable income, and the cost of coverage provided under a self-insured group health plan that is not subject to federal continuation coverage requirements (i.e., a church plan).