With so many options to consider in small group employer plans, deciding on the best health care plan can be confusing. The affordable care act has made many changes to how the carriers create their plan designs. The insurance plans now use the following category levels: bronze, silver, gold, or platinum, based on how they…
Model Notices under Health Care Reform The Affordable Care Act requires group health plans to provide a number of informational notices to employees and other individuals eligible for benefits under the plan. Model notices that may be used to satisfy certain notice requirements are available from the U.S. Department of Labor. Included is a…
The Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) and new state laws great new rules for how small group health plan rates will be calculated in 2014 and beyond for small groups. These changes are different than how small group has been rated prior to ACA. For non-grandfathered small group plans, insurance must maintain a single risk pool for…
Group business – SBC distribution requirements Under its final rule of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, U.S. health insurers and group health plan providers must provide a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) to participants and beneficiaries who are eligible to enroll or re-enroll in group health coverage through an open enrollment period.…
In addition to avoiding some of the changes in small group benefits, some insurers are advising their group clients to “Early renew” and have a new effective date of December 1, 2013, thereby avoiding the more expensive January 1, 0214 changes until later in 2014. If a policy is renewed before January 1, 2014, this…
Group health plans in existence on or before March 23, 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law may be considered “Grandfathered.” Grandfathered plans are exempt from certain health care provisions, whereas non-grandfathered plans must comply with health care reform mandates. Listed below are a summary of key benefit provisions that apply to…
Group health plans in existence as of March 23, 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law may be considered “Grandfathered.” Grandfathered plans are exempt from certain health care reform provisions, whereas non-grandfathered plans must comply with the healthcare reform mandates. Group health plans with “grandfathered” status may have significant consequences if they change to…
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590) was signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act approved by Congress, signed by the President on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 is intended to expand coverage to millions of Americans. Some measures will be implemented in 2010, but many…
