Health plan admin - COBRA (BenefitsLink.com)Headlines re Health plan admin - COBRA, gathered by BenefitsLink.comGuidance Overview Loss of Union Status Was Not a COBRA Qualifying Event, Despite Loss of Coverage- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "COBRA specifies seven triggering events that can be qualifying events if they result in a loss of coverage while the plan is subject to COBRA. But not all losses of health care coverage are caused by one of these seven triggering events." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)http://www.ebia.com/weeklyguest/19404/20080620570ba6a5d48fcb2b6a3f0854cb2ac3a7/BNL080529 Official Guidance Text of First Periodic Update to IRS 2007-2008 Priority Guidance Plan (PDF)- (Found July 11, 2008 ) 49 pages. Excerpt: "The attached update sets forth the guidance on the original 2007-2008 Priority Guidance Plan that we have published. Although the update may indicate that a particular item on the plan has been completed, it is possible that one or more additional projects may be completed in the plan year relating to that item. The update also includes 61 items of additional guidance, some of which have already been published.' See section entitled EMPLOYEE BENEFITS and section...http://benefitslink.com/IRS/2007_2008_pgp_update.pdf Staying on the Job May Prevent Erosion of Health Benefits for Employees Aged 55 to 64- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "One legislative proposal would help bridge the three-year coverage gap between age 62, a common retirement age, and age 65, the age of Medicare eligibility: The Health Care and Training for Older Workers Act (S. 708) would provide COBRA coverage for this 36-month period." (Wolters Kluwer)http://www.hr.cch.com/news/benefits/042308.asp Before Medicare - Health Insurance Sticker Shock and Rejection- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "IF you want to retire before you are 65 and eligible for Medicare, health insurance is vital to your plans. Without it, you risk losing everything. . . . Those without company-provided retiree health benefits who are eligible can use a patchwork of federal and state laws to build an insurance bridge -- although an expensive one -- to Medicare." (The New York Times; free registration required)http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/business/retirement/21insure.html?ex=1366516800&en=e... Guidance Overview Last Known Address Important for COBRA- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "While this case did not discuss proof of mailing, a successful COBRA compliance program includes proof that a Qualifying Event Notice is sent timely. The best manner to fulfill that is to send these important notifications via U.S. Postal Service first class mail with a certificate of mailing from the Post Office." (infinisource)http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080415-1.aspx Guidance Overview Insurer Seeks Indemnification from TPA for Not Providing Timely Notice of Qualified Beneficiary's COBRA Election- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "The COBRA statute does not apply directly to insurers. Rather, an insurer's COBRA obligations will be dictated by the terms of its contract, which will often impose conditions, such as timely notice requirements, that must be met before the insurer will be obligated to provide COBRA coverage. As this case demonstrates, it is crucial to be clear about what notices are required and who is responsible for providing them, especially when, as here, COBRA administration is outsourced...http://www.ebia.com/weeklyguest/19345/200804258194fb7ebf96b1a678a53730e47186fb/BNL080403 Guidance Overview Using Alternative Coverage To Offset COBRA- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Why do employers offer alternative coverage independently from COBRA Sometimes, the employer is legally required to do so, as in the case of State continuation laws affecting insured plans. Other times, as with retiree plans, coverage is provided as a reward for service to the employer. In other instances, employers effectively use alternative coverages to reduce their COBRA liability or COBRA administrative expenses. For instance, alternative coverage often is used as part of a..http://www.hrtrainingcenter.com/readArticle.asp?AID=1000057&RID=1010100 Lawmakers Seek to Revive Legislation That Would Eliminate COBRA Coverage Limits- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Reps. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) are pushing to revive legislation (HR 2047) proposed last year that would allow people to pay for health coverage from their former employers until they qualify for Medicare at age 65, the Chicago Sun Times reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52473 Guidance Overview COBRA Election Notice Was Required for Employee on Leave for Work-Related Injury- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "Here is another cautionary tale for employers who may be tempted to take COBRA requirements lightly. While it may be difficult, particularly in leave of absence cases, to determine when the COBRA qualifying event occurs, this does not excuse an employer from its obligations. As shown here, the consequences can be severe, and may include statutory penalties, medical expenses, and more." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)http://www.ebia.com/weeklyguest/19432/2008071831cc277afc2de6b816d5526f15035ded/BNL080626 Guidance Overview COBRA TPA That Refused Disability Extension Not Liable to Qualified Beneficiary- (Found July 11, 2008 ) Excerpt: "This case is a textbook example of a COBRA TPA doing everything right. The COBRA TPA had a service agreement with helpful language outlining responsibilities and disclaiming fiduciary status, provided a COBRA election notice that clearly specified how and to whom to provide the disability notice, and properly refused to grant the disability extension to the qualified beneficiary, who failed to follow the requirements for providing the disability notice." (Employee Benefits...http://www.ebia.com/weeklyguest/19440/2008072436db7ea8e43a58e10473a1282035c661/BNL080703 |