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Does Enrolling in Medicare Trigger an Offer of COBRA? | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory

Enrolling in Medicare does not cause COBRA to start. Under the federal rules, COBRA must be offered to persons enrolled in the employer’s health plan only if they lose coverage because of certain specific events. Termination of employment is an example of a COBRA qualifying event. Becoming eligible for Medicare, or enrolling in Medicare, is not a … Continued

FAQs About Cobra Premium Assistance Under The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory

April 07, 2021 Set out below are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of certain provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), as it applies to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. These FAQs have been prepared by the Department of Labor (DOL). Like previously issued FAQs … Continued

Cobra Liability in Mergers and Acquisitions | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires certain group health plans to make continuation coverage available to certain individuals who would otherwise lose group health plan coverage due to a qualifying event. Employers who go through business reorganizations, such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), will need to know whether COBRA continuation coverage must be … Continued

The Rap on Wraps | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

There’s a good chance you use a wrap document to help satisfy your Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) summary plan description (SPD) obligations. Yet if you look for a definition of wrap document in ERISA statutes or regulations, you will not find one. The wrap is not a defined term or required document; it … Continued

Agencies Provide Relief for Group Plans and Donation Programs Affected by Hurricanes/Wildfires | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a news release to recognize that plan participants and beneficiaries may encounter problems due to Hurricane Maria and the California Wildfires. The DOL advises plan fiduciaries to make reasonable accommodations to prevent workers’ loss of benefits and to take steps to minimize the possibility of individuals losing benefits because of … Continued

Latest IRS ACA Round Up (Including 2018 Cost-of-Living Adjustments) | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the instructions for Forms 1094/1095 for the 2017 tax year, announced PCORI fees for 2017-18, and announced cost-of-living adjustments for 2018. The IRS provided additional guidance on leave-based donation programs’ tax treatment and released an information letter on COBRA and Medicare. Here’s a recap of these actions for … Continued

DOL Guidance for Benefit Plans Impacted by Hurricane Harvey | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued compliance guidance for benefit plans, employers and employees, and service providers who are impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The guidance generally provides relief from various ERISA requirements and time limits for entities in the disaster area. This follows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announcement extending certain filing dates, including … Continued

The COBRA Payment Process | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

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 … Continued

Best Practices for Initial COBRA Notices | JRW Associates, Inc., a Raleigh Benefit Advisory Firm

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 initial notice, also referred to as the general notice, communicates general COBRA rights and obligations to each covered employee (and his or her spouse) … Continued

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Phone
919.571.0883

Email
info@jrwassoc.com