Benefits Buzz
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. The national emergency took effect on March 1, 2020, and it has yet to expire. Following the national emergency declaration came a wave of guidance and regulations, including guidance and regulations which impacted deadlines associated with employee benefit programs.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Notice 2020-76 with information pertaining to the upcoming reporting required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The following information was included in the notice:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued draft reporting forms for the purpose of filing information necessary to enforce the Employer Mandate. The 2020 draft version of the applicable forms can be found below (with finalized versions expected to be released later this year):
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer continuation coverage under a group health plan for periods of 18, 29 or 36 months depending on the qualifying event.
We are just about one month away from the start of a wave of open enrollment periods (OEPs). October 15th marks the start of the OEP season for Medicare with other OEPs in the individual and group markets following shortly thereafter. The below information summarizes some key dates and information as it relates to the upcoming OEPs.
Each year employers must provide a written notice to Medicare-eligible employees who are covered under their group health plan. The notice must include information about the creditable coverage status of the prescription drug benefit. In other words, the notice tells employees if the prescription drug benefit on the group health plan is at least as good as the standard Medicare Part D plan.
