Group health plans that offer dependent child coverage will soon have to make coverage available for adult children who are under age 26. As employers prepare for annual enrollment, many are curious about whether this new mandate applies exclusively to medical programs, or extends to dental and vision programs as …
New Rules: Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Process
July 27, 2010 Leave a Comment
The government published rules on July 23 implementing new internal claims and appeals and external review processes under health care reform. The rules, effective for plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, address new requirements for state external review processes that apply mainly to fully …
I hear that beginning in 2011, the value of group health plan benefits has to be reported on Form W-2. Does this mean the benefits are taxable?
July 5, 2010 Leave a Comment
No. While it is true that employers must begin reporting the value of certain group health plan benefits on employees’ Form W-2 wage reports beginning in 2011, the benefits are NOT currently subject to taxation. For now, the government has stated that these benefits are being reported for informational …
Are employer-sponsored group health plans covering retirees subject to health care reform?
July 1, 2010 Leave a Comment
Maybe. If both active employees and retirees are combined in one plan, then health care reform applies, even to the retiree portion of the plan. However, plans that are separate and do not include any active employees – so called “retiree-only” plans – may avoid government enforcement of health care …