Reporting Offers of COBRA Coverage The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires employers to offer covered employees who lose their health benefits due to a qualifying event to continue group health benefits for a limited time at the employee’s own cost. COBRA provisions are found in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the […]
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December 2017 Compliance Recap
Compliance Recap December 2017 December was a relatively busy month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) delayed the reporting deadlines in 2018 for the 1095-B and 1095-C forms to individuals. President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on accommodation […]
Read moreThe COBRA Payment Process
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) allows qualified beneficiaries who lose health benefits due to a qualifying event to continue group health benefits. The COBRA payment process is subject to various rules in terms of grace periods, notification, premium payment methods, and treatment of insignificant shortfalls. Grace Periods The initial premium payment […]
Read moreDetermining COBRA Premiums for Fully Insured and Self Funded Health Plans
Determining COBRA Premiums for Fully Insured and Self-Funded Health Plans The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) allows qualified beneficiaries who lose health benefits due to a qualifying event to continue group health benefits. While some group health plans may provide COBRA continuation coverage at a reduced rate or at no cost, most qualified […]
Read moreCOBRA Notices
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires group health plans to provide notices to covered employees and their families explaining their COBRA rights when certain events occur. The various notices described below are subject to different timeframes and requirements under COBRA. Initial Notice The initial notice, also referred to as the general […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // May 2017
May was an active month in the employee benefits world. On May 4, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill titled the “American Health Care Act of 2017” (AHCA) to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its Employer Shared Responsibility affordability percentage […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // November 2016
November was a busy month for administrative rulemaking in the employee benefits world. The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) released advance informational copies of 2016 Form 5500 Annual Return/Report. The government released annual benefit plan amounts for 2017. The IRS […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // August 2016
August remained relatively quiet in the employee benefits world, with only new draft versions of the instructions for Forms 1095-C, 1095-C, 1094-B and 1095-B. The new draft versions of the specific forms were released in July. The IRS also released the annual contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and the deductible minimums and out-of-pocket […]
Read moreTime is almost up! Sign up now for the February Webinar – Controlled Groups & Affiliated Service Groups: What Employers Need to Know
Bim is pleased to extend an invitation to attend our upcoming monthly compliance Webinar. In conjunction with our alliance with United Benefit Advisors, you have the opportunity to learn more about the latest compliance trends and regulations from one of the nations leading employment and benefit law firms, Jackson Lewis LLP. Best of all, you can take […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // December 2015
2015 went out with a bang, as federal agencies and the White House issued a number of major delays relating to employee benefits. Most significantly, IRS reporting for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s play or pay requirement has been delayed, for both forms being sent to employees and forms being sent to the […]
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