Benefits Buzz
Did you know that there are specific rules in place to electronically furnish plan documents and written notices that are required to be distributed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)? This includes electronic distribution of documents and notices by email or by posting to an internal company website. The general requirements are as follows:
It’s official. The Biden Administration announced the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023.
You may be familiar with Medicare’s annual enrollment period (AEP) which occurs each fall. From October 15th until December 7th of each year, Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan of their choice. This includes enrolling in a plan for the first time or changing to a new plan.
Reporting requirements from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are rapidly approaching. Health Insurance Marketplaces, health insurance carriers, and employers may be subject to the reporting. The reporting is due February 28, 2023 if filing manually and by March 31, 2023 if filing electronically. Electronic filing is required for entities that are filing 250 or more forms.
Let’s get to the ABCs of the reporting.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Congress enacted a law called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). One of the provisions of the FFCRA included a requirement that state Medicaid programs keep individuals continuously enrolled in coverage through the end of the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends. In return, state Medicaid programs have received enhanced federal funding.
The COVID-19 national public health emergency is set to expire on January 11, 2023; however, the Biden administration is expected to issue another extension of the national public health emergency. It is unknown at this time when the national public health emergency will be declared over.
