Managing Employment Complications and Pre-Tax Benefits
Facing unemployment or managing a $200 monthly commute can be challenging. While we can’t offer a magic solution, we can provide practical advice on utilizing pre-tax benefits to improve your situation. Managing Job Loss with COBRA Job loss can be a stressful experience, especially when it comes to maintaining coverage for you and your family. […]
6 Things Employees Should Understand About COBRA Coverage
People often don’t understand what COBRA coverage is until they need to use it. Even then, individuals may struggle to understand the fundamentals. This lack of understanding can have costly consequences. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) protects workers who lose their health benefits. Since 1985, COBRA, has given workers (and their families) the right to […]
5 questions to ask about your COBRA solution
At times, we hear the phrase “COBRA is COBRA”, but not every COBRA solution is created equally. The improper handling of your COBRA services can create huge financial consequences for employers. Avoid COBRA administration pitfalls by answering these five questions about your current COBRA solution: Do you have proper proof of mailing? Most COBRA claims […]
New to Benefits Education Series for HR Professionals and Advisors
In the ever-evolving realm of employee benefits, staying ahead of the curve is essential for HR professionals and benefits advisors. Understanding the intricacies of pre-tax benefit plans and COBRA regulations is crucial, but for those new to the field, it can be a challenging endeavor. Recognizing this need, Benefit Resource (BRI) has introduced a groundbreaking […]
How long does COBRA last?
How long does COBRA last? It seems like a simple enough question, but when is anything simple? When it comes to COBRA coverage, you need to understand why COBRA coverage is being offered to really understand how long COBRA lasts. 18 MONTHS Reason 1: Termination or reduction in hours When group coverage is lost due to […]
Register for our Upcoming Webinar: Benefits in Turbulent Times: Impact of the End of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many changes in the way we live and work. Recently, the H.J. Res 7 was passed, which ends the current public health emergency related to COVID-19. As an employer, it is important to understand what this means for your organization, particularly regarding consumer-direct benefits and COBRA. BRI is offering a […]
What the End of the Pandemic Means for Consumer-Direct Benefits and COBRA
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc globally, challenging leaders and healthcare professionals at every turn. Recently, on April 10th, the H.J. Res 7 bill was signed into law, calling for the end of the national emergency declaration for COVID-19, which was put in place to mitigate the pandemic’s effects. This triggers the process and timeline […]
What happens when a qualifying COBRA event occurs?
An employee terms and you notify your COBRA administrator of the qualifying event. A letter goes out and you are done, right? Well, yes and no. It is important that a COBRA Qualifying Event Notice is: (1) provided to required individuals and (2) contains the appropriate details regarding COBRA coverage and election rights. Who needs […]
Do you have the right COBRA Resources?
Administering COBRA and educating eligible employees on its ins and outs can be a challenge if you don’t have the right resources. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer continued health coverage to employees who leave their jobs (for any reason other than gross misconduct). This […]
BRI COBRA/Direct Bill Renewal Process Overview
The video below provides an overview of the COBRA/Direct Bill renewal process and intake forms that will be required for any COBRA, Continuation, or Direct Billing plans with BRI. Watch it to learn: How to submit the required information for Open Enrollment What to do if you don’t want BRI to administer Open Enrollment packets […]
All the ways to pay COBRA premiums
There are a number of moving pieces involved in COBRA that can be overwhelming. This piece will help you understand the following: options to elect continued coverage through COBRA different ways to pay your COBRA premiums common questions about paying for COBRA premiums How can I elect COBRA plans? There are three ways you can […]
7 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT COBRA OPEN ENROLLMENT
While open enrollment is winding down for many, COBRA’s might be just around the corner. Will you be caught off guard? Benefit Resource (BRI) has a comprehensive guide to help you gear up for your enrollment period. WHAT IS COBRA OPEN ENROLLMENT? COBRA is very similar to the typical open enrollment period. Qualified beneficiaries are […]
ARPA is Ending: What Does It Mean?
The end of the COBRA subsidy period is here. For a quick reminder, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) permitted up to six months of premiums for COBRA health coverages to be subsidized. September 30, 2021, marks the end of the subsidy period, but where does that leave COBRA participants? Can individuals continue coverage after the […]
Am I eligible for a COBRA Subsidy?
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) makes a 100% COBRA subsidy available for premiums due from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. While this is all great, the question of “who is eligible for the subsidy?” is a hot topic. Let’s see if we can help! PART 1: Plan Sponsors identify Assistance Eligible Individuals […]
COBRA subsidy FAQs: Answers to the most common questions
In our latest webinar, Legislative Frenzy: COBRA Subsidies, pandemic periods, FSA relief and more, we discussed the most recent legislative changes rolled out by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act. One of the major changes was the introduction of a government-funded COBRA subsidy. In its wake, many benefits consultants and brokers have been left […]
8 Things to Know About the New COBRA Subsidy
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was passed through the House and Senate this week. The bill was signed into law on March 11, 2021. While the specifics are still developing, here are 8 things to know about the COBRA subsidy that is included in the bill. 1. It’s a 100% subsidy. While […]
How would a government funded COBRA subsidy work?
UPDATE 3/10/2021: The American Rescue Plan Act has now passed the House and Senate. It is headed to President Biden’s desk for signature. It is expected to be signed into law by Friday, March 12, 2021. According to a recent SHRM article, employers can expect a government funded COBRA subsidy to shortly be a reality. […]
Retiree billing– How employers can work smarter, not harder
The coronavirus pandemic introduced many of us to new terminology, from furlough and continuation coverage to COBRA and direct billing. We’ve discussed COBRA and furlough in the past. Today we are going to take a closer look at direct billing. And more specifically, the retiree billing aspect of direct billing. What is direct billing? Direct […]
Is It Better to Be Your Own COBRA Administrator?
Whether you have a COBRA administrator or not, the fact remains that COBRA administration is complicated. There’s knowing when COBRA applies, understanding the nuances of additional state-specific (or “mini-COBRA”) laws, keeping track of long coverage periods and other timelines, and finally, choosing whether to be your own COBRA administrator or work with a third party. […]
7 Tips for Bringing Employees Back on Payroll
In April 2020, unemployment rates peaked at nearly 15%. Since that time, there has been a steady decline and current unemployment is near 10%. While this is still a far cry from our pre-COVID-19 unemployment rates of 3.5%, employers are increasingly bringing employees back on payroll. However, this task is bringing new challenges to employers, […]
7 legislative changes affecting benefits since COVID-19 started
When we started out 2020, any legislative predictions we had for the year would have been wrong. It was an election year after all, which typically creates strong stalemate positions and not much else. But as we all know, 2020 has been anything but typical. In fact, we have seen over 7 significant legislative changes […]
How to effectively collect COBRA premiums during COVID-19
In the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, unemployment rates in various states ranged from 4.3% (in KY) to 17% (in MA). While unemployment can lead someone to be eligible for COBRA, depending on the situation, COBRA might not be appropriate or even required. Certain situations might call for direct billing. The reality […]
Download the Crash Course Now
Inside “A Crash Course for Employers: Understanding When to Offer COBRA vs. Direct Billing,” you’ll learn if your company needs to offer COBRA, how to avoid noncompliance fees, and the benefits of working with a third-party administrator. What’s inside: Download here: Definitions and main differences between COBRA and Direct Billing Three questions to ask to […]
3 memes to describe how HR managers are feeling right now
The worldwide situation with the coronavirus has been stressful, to say the least. We’ve heard it said that laughter is the best medicine. That’s why we compiled these memes to describe how HR and benefits professionals might be feeling right now. Up first: How many is too many? #askingforafriend Chances are you’re working on updates […]
