Benefits and HR Tips

1.
DID YOU KNOW
October is Health Literacy Month
Benefits and HR tips brought to you by and the perfect time to promote the
The Gardner Group importance of understanding health
information.
Consider offering a special
information session dedicated to
helping your employees gain a better
understanding of their health
benefits. Take this opportunity to
impress upon them the importance
of consumerism when making health
care decisions.
Temporary Guidance Issued on CDHP Satisfaction
90-day Waiting Period Limit on the Rise
New temporary guidance has been to elect coverage that would begin within A recent report from the Employee
released regarding the 90-day maximum the 90-day limit, the plan is not in Benefit Research Institute indicates that
waiting period mandated by the violation of this stipulation. Therefore, a overall enrollee satisfaction with
Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA plan is not in violation merely because an consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) is
stipulates that for plan years beginning employee takes time to elect coverage. rising.
on or after Jan. 1, 2014, group health
plans and group health insurance issuers If your plan’s eligibility depends on a The report states that while the
may not apply any waiting period that specified number of hours per pay percentage of traditional-plan enrollees
exceeds 90 days. period, and you are unable to determine who are extremely or very satisfied with
whether a newly-hired employee will their health plan overall is higher than for
This temporary guidance, Notice 2012- satisfy the requirements, the guidance CDHP enrollees, it has declined from 67
59, was issued on Aug. 31, 2012, and states that you may take a reasonable percent in 2006 to 57 percent in 2011.
will remain in effect at least through the period of time to determine whether the
end of 2014. employee is eligible. Conversely, the percentage of enrollees
who are extremely or very satisfied with
According to the guidance, a waiting This measurement period will comply their CDHP plan has risen from 37
period is the period of time that must with ACA’s waiting period limit if percent in 2006 to 46 percent in 2011.
pass before coverage for an employee or coverage is made effective no later than
dependent who is otherwise eligible to 13 months from the employee’s start Because attitudes toward out-of-pocket
enroll under the terms of your plan can date, unless a waiting period of more health care costs resemble the trends of
become effective. Employees and than 90 days is imposed after the period. overall health plan satisfaction, it is
dependents are eligible when they have believed that out-of-pocket costs are
met your plan’s eligibility conditions, as For example situations or more primarily driving these trends in overall
specified in your plan’s terms. information, contact The Gardner Group plan satisfaction.
Any eligibility condition that is based
solely on the lapse of time cannot be
longer than 90 days.
As long as a plan enables an employee
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