Skip Navigation

CMS Delays SHOP

December 12, 2013

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a delay in online enrollment for Small Business Health Option Program (SHOP) through Healthcare.gov. This delay does not affect the our private exchange.

CMS said employers who want to sign up for coverage through SHOP can enroll directly through participating insurance companies, like Health Alliance. Employers do not have to wait to receive an eligibility determination before taking action. Health Alliance offers 11 SHOP Qualified Health Plans (QHPs).

Here’s how the enrollment process works:

  1. Before or after enrolling directly with us, download a fillable PDF SHOP application on Healthcare.gov and mail the application to the ,arketplace. Connect to this application on HealthAlliance.org.
  2. SHOP will notify the IRS of the employers and employees enrolled in a SHOP QHP for tax year 2014, which allows your company to claim tax credit on 2014 tax returns.

Visit HealthAlliance.org for more information on QHPs and for the application form. If you have questions, contact your SHOP-certified broker or your client consultant.

Small Groups Can Still Renew

President Obama announced recent changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Illinois Department of Insurance followed the federal government’s lead. This means many small employer groups can keep their 2013 plans that were in effect on or before October 1, 2013.

Before these changes, we were already offering an early renewal option for our groups, and that offer still stands. But with the government’s changes to the ACA, the deal is now even better for groups that renew early.

Your group has 2 renewal options:

  1. If your group chooses the early renewal option, you will be able to renew early again next year and keep your 2013 plan for at least another plan year.  This delays your move to an ACA-compatible plan for another year.
  2. If your group does not want to renew early, you will follow a normal renewal schedule. You will most likely have to move to an ACA-compatible plan for 2015.

If you already chose not to renew early but changed your mind, it’s not too late. You have until December 20 to take advantage of the early renewal offer. Contact your client consultant to get started.