IRS and DOL notice extends COBRA and health plan deadlines
A new IRS and DOL notice, EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01, provides temporary relief from COBRA and health plan deadlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. What is the timeline in the DOL notice? The notice addresses the time period from the beginning of the pandemic to 60 days after the end of the pandemic. The beginning […]
Do I need to offer COBRA to my furloughed employees?
In uncertain times, we just want simple answers. COVID-19 has certainly brought uncertainty, we are still searching for those simple answers. These days, many of you are asking, “Do I need to offer COBRA to my furloughed employees?” Let’s see if we can offer a little more clarity (and hopefully some simplicity). What is a […]
The link between pre-tax benefits and COBRA
COBRA is routinely misunderstood and there are some valid reasons for it. Nothing is straight-forward. You deal with a lot of “maybes” or “sometimes”. Rarely, do you find an “always” or “never” situation. In all honesty, you probably need a degree in Advanced Benefits Continuation Rules to know all the ins and outs. So, it […]
Do I need to offer COBRA?
The saying “Ignorance is bliss” is probably not the best approach to determining if you need to offer COBRA. In fact, you could find yourself in a pile of fines, penalties and other financial exposure if you blatantly ignore your COBRA obligations. So we are simplifying the conversation. When it comes time to determine if […]
Top Blogs of the Decade
As we close out the decade, we look back at the most educational, news breaking blogs for a 2019 review. From tax reform to how-to articles, here are the top 10 blogs from Benefit Resource: Check Your Balance To quote Jerry McGuire, “Show me the money!” If you want to see your balance fast and […]
I lost my COBRA coverage. Now what?
A man was walking down the street and groaned “I lost my COBRA…” Everyone nearby jumped in fear (expecting a massive snake was lurking nearby). One curious fellow decided to take pity on the man and help him find his cobra. He approached and asked, “Where did you last have your cobra?” The first man […]
Don’t enroll in COBRA until you understand these 5 questions
COBRA is sometimes viewed as a necessary evil. People will sometimes say (or complain) about all the things they wish they understood before enrolling in COBRA. Today, we are going to give you a sneak peak into the 5 questions you should understand before you enroll in COBRA. 1) What does COBRA cost? (And why […]
Medicare Series: Part 2 – Understanding how Medicare and COBRA interact
Welcome to Part Two of our Medicare Series. Our first post addressed how Medicare and HSAs interact. It included two lessons about how HSAs and Medicare interact. This post will address how Medicare and COBRA interact. We will cover two main topics: When someone enrolled in COBRA becomes eligible for Medicare Medicare extension eligibility It […]
6 reasons besides job loss you’re eligible for COBRA
Many who hear the term COBRA automatically assume job loss is part of the story. However, there are several reasons apart from job loss that make an individual eligible for COBRA coverage. There are two categories of events that qualify an individual to be eligible for COBRA. The first is an employee qualifying event. The […]
Six Reasons to Consider COBRA Coverage
You’re ready for your next big adventure. You’ve packed up your things and are ready to say sayonara to your existing employer. Before you run off too fast, don’t forget the essential tools you need while your adventure is starting out. That’s right, your group health coverages. And, COBRA coverage ensures you are prepared for […]
Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to work you go…
Have you ever wished you could wave a magic wand to help you through life’s harder moments, like facing unemployment or paying for your $200 monthly commute? Unfortunately, we don’t have a wand to offer you. But we can play the part of the fairy godmother and offer you advice on how to use your […]
Effectively managing COBRA coverage questions
What is the best way to broach the topic of COBRA coverage and keep your employee (or former employee) in the room? Despite the bad rap COBRA gets, it’s not all bad. As a reminder, COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Under COBRA, covered individuals must be offered continuation coverage when coverage […]
Navigating Direct Billing Services
Let’s face it, managing employee benefits is complicated and somehow it gets a little more complicated every year. You might be managing employee leave, a workforce with fluctuating hours, seasonal help and retiree benefits. What was once a basic reconciliation process, might now be a full-time job. How do you manage Direct Billing Services in […]
Making sure you’re ready for 2018
We’ve compiled the best advice from 2017 and broken it down by category so you can be prepared for 2018. Review what you need to know about COBRA, Commuter Benefit Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, and pre-tax accounts. Are you ready for 2018? COBRA 6 Reasons COBRA Coverage Ends Early Provides a basic […]
6 Reasons COBRA Coverage Ends Early
At the basic level, COBRA (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) provides continuation coverage of a group health plan when coverage would otherwise be lost. Simple, right? Deciding to elect COBRA coverage was only the first step. You also need a clear understanding of when and how COBRA coverage ends. Sometimes, COBRA coverage ends unexpectedly. […]
Negotiating Your Healthcare Bills
You’ve opened the mailbox and you see a hospital bill. You know the one, the one that says you owe $3,258.29. Or is it $2,450.39? It’s no secret that medical billing is confusing, an entire degree dedicated to it. The good news is, paying a medical bill is not like buying a drink at the […]
Taxes, Policies, and Politics
The political cycle is in full swing (exciting I know). Tax deductions, tax liability, health care, tax code reform, and childcare are all buzz words you will hear throughout the election cycle. You may have heard some political figures mention Health Savings Accounts (HSA), or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) as part of their Health Care Plan. Child […]
COBRA vs. The Exchange
When Health Care Reform first passed, there were many that felt it was the beginning of the end for COBRA. In the years since, we have gained additional insights regarding the roles of COBRA and the Health Insurance Exchange (“The Exchange”). What is COBRA? COBRA (or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is the continuation of […]
