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Patient Protection and A ffordable C are A ct Notification o f Exchange / Marketplace (Thirty (30) Hour Rule). Presented by Dr. Michael B. Brinkos Michael Garofalo Jan Klein. Laws/Uncertainties. The laws are as of today.
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Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Notification of Exchange / Marketplace (Thirty (30) Hour Rule) Presented by Dr. Michael B. Brinkos Michael Garofalo Jan Klein
Laws/Uncertainties • The laws are as of today. Refer to manuals / As it changes replace the information in the manuals. • Uncertainties • 30 hour rule (losing union membership, losing hours, returning to 40 hour work week). • Penalties • Cadillac Tax • Districts need to be mindful changes will be coming.
District Action Steps I. Exchange Letters • Sample letter • Tracking of Hours • Independent Contractors/Staffing Agencies • Determination of Enrollment and Coverage • Penalties
What is the Health Insurance Exchange/Marketplace • The Exchange/Marketplace is designed to help families find health insurance that meets their needs and fits their budget. • The Exchange/Marketplace offers "one-stop shopping" to find and compare private health insurance options. • Families may also be eligible for a new kind of tax credit that lowers their monthly premium immediately. • Open enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Exchange/Marketplace begins in October 2013 for coverage starting as early as January 1, 2014.
District Action I. Federal Exchange/Marketplace Notice • Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the health benefit Exchange/ Marketplace will be operational on Jan. 1, 2014. • Requires employers to provide a notice regarding Exchange/Marketplace to all employees. • Employers must provide a notice of coverage options to ALL employees. Note: this is not limited to just those enrolled in health insurance. ALL of your employees must be notified, even those opting out of coverage. The only exceptions are listed below: • A notice does not need to be issued to: • Spouse and dependent • COBRA participants • Retirees
What Must Be Included in the Notice: The notice must include: • Information about the existence of the new Exchange/Marketplace. • A description of Exchange/Marketplace services. • Contact information for the Exchange/Marketplace (i.e. www.HealthCare.gov).
District Action Required • Employers are required to provide the notice no later than Oct. 1, 2013. • The notice is required to be provided automatically, free of charge. • Employers are required to provide the notice of the Exchange/Marketplace to each new employee at the time of hire beginning Oct. 1, 2013.
Delivery of Notification • Two options: • First Class Mail and/or; • Electronic Distribution* • You may choose one option for all employees or a combination of both (depending on your employee population). *Please note that electronic distribution is only permissible if the following Department of Labor regulations are satisfied.
Navigators • Navigators will play a key role as Exchange/Marketplacelaunch nears. • “Navigators,” are trained people who will provide face-to-face assistance. • Their job will be to point out differences in plans so enrollees can decide which would best suit family needs and income. • The AIU was identified as the receiver of the grant funding to hire “Navigators”
District Action II. Tracking of Hours • Past Year: • How many Employees worked over 30 hours? • How many of those employees received benefits? • Future (one year to implement and align) • Tracking of Hours. • Who are you going to offer benefits to?
Thirty (30) Hour Rule??? • Originally Effective July 1, 2014 • Under the Allegheny County School Health Insurance Consortium, since our renewal rates are July 1st, the effective date for offering coverage to 30 plus hour employees would be effective July 1, 2015.
District ActionIII. Independent Contractors / Staffing Agencies • Include in our contracts with any staffing services that they are "the employer of record for the Free Rider Penalty under the Affordable Care Act". This would indemnify the organization. • Kelly Services already implemented this practice. • Amendment to any contacts to ensure the agency assumes the responsibilities with the affordable care act (indemnifications). • Bus Drivers • Food Services
District Action IV. Determination of Enrollment and Coverage • Determination of Employees' Status • Who are the employees you offer coverage? • Who are the employees you do not offer coverage? • Do you, the employer, fall under the 95 percent rule (Safe Harbor Rule)?
IV. Penalties • Penalty is $3,000 per person. • Offering coverage that is not good enough, inadequate, unaffordable (employee pays greater than 9.5 percent of household income). • If the employee is eligible for Medicare or Medicaid or on spouses coverage or eligible for spouses or declines coverage they will not trigger the penalty. • Communication to employees.
Future Considerations • Restructure your work force. • Is it more affordable to take the "risk" of the $3,ooo dollars instead of restructuring your work force? • Have employees sign a form during enrollment that they were offered coverage. • What if the employee contribution is more than they earn? • Create procedures on how they will have to send you the money.
Cadillac Tax • If in the ACSHIC this is not applicable at this time.
Requirements for 2014 • Exchange/Marketplace Notices • Summary of Benefits and Coverage • W-2 Reporting • Fees are already of the built in the components of your rates and coverage • Transitional Reinsurance Fee • Limits on out of Pocket
Passage of Affordable Care Act-signed into law March 20, 2010 Employer Mandatory Notification of Exchange/Marketplace-employers must distribute by October 1, 2013 for current employees and on-going for new hires. Employer Notification of Open Enrollment and Summary of Benefits –July 2013. Enrollment begins in the insurance exchange/marketplace –October 1, 2013. Grants are awarded for “navigators” to be hired to assist the uninsured or underinsured in purchasing insurance through the exchange. September 2013 –August 2014. Insurance purchased through the exchange/marketplace becomes effective –January 1, 2014. Employer mandated coverage for 30 hours employees-July 1 2015 (this action was originally to take effect July 1, 2014. In July of 2013 the government issued a one-year delay.