You (and your employees) have questions. We have answers.
Most plans have a 90-day run-out period. However, this can vary by employer. Please review your plan documents or contact us to confirm your run-out period.
Most employers allow terminated employees to submit claims 90 days after their termination date or 90 days after the end of month after their termination date. This can vary by employer. Please review your plan documents or contact us to confirm your termination run-out period.
If an employee has a regular health FSA or HRA, they cannot participate in a health savings account (HSA). However, they can have a limited health FSA or limited HRA.
Not typically. While there are loopholes in the regulations that, if followed, would allow an employer to use the final paycheck rule (FPR), we recommend against it. Here’s why:
Members get their member ID mailed to at the beginning of each plan year. They can also get their ID number by logging into their participant portal account or contacting Customer Service.
This can vary by Employer. Refer to your plan documents or contact BHS for further guidance.
Typically, carryover funds roll from year to year as long as the employee maintains employment or until the funds are all used. Employers do have the ability to limit carryover to employees who make an election.
Participants contribute to the plan throughout the plan year, but have access to the entire election as of the first day of the plan year due to the uniform coverage rule. This means participants will have access to amounts they have not yet contributed through payroll deductions. The amounts that are paid but have not been contributed are considered at-risk amounts; BenefitHelp Solutions pays these amounts on the plan administrator’s (usually the employer’s) behalf.
To offset the risk assumed by the plan administrator in providing these benefits, the plan is permitted to retain any contributions that were not utilized in the plan year. These unused amounts are called participant forfeitures and can be used to pay costs associated with administration of the plan.
Examples of allowable expenses may include: Alternative treatment (chiropractic, naturopathic), Lasik eye surgery, fertility drugs, hearing aids and batteries, weight loss program to treat obesity, and other benefits.
COBRA Continuation services include:
The Initial Notification Letter is a letter of notification to newly hired employees and their covered dependents. It explains their COBRA rights.
The Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA) highly recommends that the initial notice or SPD be sent to the employee’s home immediately upon hire. We send notices to employees and covered spouses with proof of mailing from the US Postal Service. This ensures proper documentation that the notice has been delivered to the employee and dependents, in case of an audit by the IRS.
A qualifying event letter notifies employees that their active coverage has been terminated due to a qualifying event. It explains how they can continue their benefits and the cost of these benefits.
Currently employers notify us of a qualifying event by mail, e-mail, fax or electronic file.
COBRA rates vary depending on the number of continuants and services required. Request a quote online or contact our Sales Team by email or phone: 503-412-4210 or toll-free at 888-387-5440.
We scan all documents into an imaging system, which can be accessed at any time. This ensures documents are secured from being lost or damaged.
Additionally, we receive proof of mailing from the US Postal Service for both the initial notification and qualifying event letters. This proof of mailing is scanned into the former employee's file.
We have a knowledgeable staff dedicated to COBRA administration. We ensure good customer service by:
BenefitHelp Solutions has a trained staff dedicated to COBRA administration. Our staff attend ongoing Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA) training sessions to stay up-to-date with federal COBRA regulations. The consultants at EBIA are also available on a retainer basis for consultation on issues as needed.
BenefitHelp Solutions also has access to the services of Ater Wynne, LLP, our corporate consulting attorneys.
You must notify us within 30 days of the qualifying event, but we recommend you do so as soon as possible.
No. You are only required to offer continuation of the same coverage that was in effect at the time of termination. If active employees are allowed to select dental only, the COBRA qualified beneficiary must be given the same right.