Several Deadlines Approaching

August 29, 2013

Employers’ October 1 Deadline for ACA Notice Approaches

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers must give notice to employees about the availability of coverage through the new health insurance exchanges by October 1, 2013.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued Technical Release 2013-02 to help employers with the requirement. EBSA released 2 versions of the notice, one for use by employers that offer a health plan and one for employers that do not.

The IRS recently delayed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer pay-or-play (shared responsibility) mandate and related employer reporting requirements by one year. With the extension, employers will not face penalties for failing to offer full-time employees health care coverage meeting certain standards until 2015.

URGENT: Only 16 Days Remain for Early Renewal

We’re currently offering an early renewal program to all small groups allows groups more time to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Most could see a cost savings, too.

Small groups can request rates for an extended rating period for up to 15 months. For the early renewal process to be in place, the group must submit a 2014 Early Renewal Program form by September 15. The early renewal fact sheet contains more information.

We posted these pieces at Your Health Alliance in the Forms and Resources sections for both brokers and employers.

Below are the early renewal materials for your Health Alliance small groups considering an early or extended renewal with a December 1, 2013 effective date. We will email rate portfolios to you and the group. Note: Rate portfolios will be sent via a secured email which will be accessible for only 30 days from your receipt, so remember to save these documents to your own computer or server within this time period.

Note: We will not provide these materials with the rate portfolios. Instead, you will need to share these materials with your renewing employees.

It is our priority to keep you informed about employer group health care coverage options, especially those tied to health care reform, so you are able to communicate with your groups and members.

Remember, we must receive decisions about early renewal no later than September 15, 2013 by providing the signed rate sheet, early renewal program form, and EEQ.

Thank you for your continued support of Health Alliance. If you have any questions, contact your client consultant.

Help Your Employees Travel Safely This Holiday Weekend

We want to remind you and your employees to travel safely during the long Labor Day weekend. And be sure to tell employees to keep their Assist America card handy in case they need any of our helpful travel benefits.

Be sure to keep these numbers with you during your travels:

Reference Number: 01-AA-HAM-031003
Within the U.S.: 1-800-872-1414
Outside the U.S.: +1-609-986-1234

Illinois Begins to Define Medical Marijuana Rules

Beginning January 1, 2014, Illinois Public Act 98-0122 allows people with certain conditions to use medical marijuana for therapy. The new law does not require private insurers, like Health Alliance, or government medical assistance programs to cover or reimburse for any costs tied to medical marijuana.

To get annual approval from the Department of Public Health, those who use medical marijuana must submit these in writing from their doctor:

A patient-doctor relationship exists for the condition
Based on a physical exam, the patient would benefit from medical marijuana

Those who carry a valid registration card for using medical marijuana will be protected from arrest and other disciplinary action as outlined in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act.

Employers can enforce drug-free policies in workplaces, and medical marijuana cannot be used in many public places, including schools, child-care facilities, and private homes that provide licensed child care or similar social services care. Health care facilities, including (but not limited to) hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care centers, and long-term care facilities will permit medical marijuana.

Extensive state rulemaking will follow on this topic.