Health Insurance Marketplace Notices
This week, Discovery Outsourcing is mailing the required Marketplace Notices (also known as "Exchanges") to worksite employees on behalf of our clients. The purpose of the Notice is to provide employees with information about the Marketplaces. No action is required by you at this time regarding the distribution of the Notices. A copy of the letter and Marketplace Notice is included with this letter for your reference.
Uncertainty in Health Care Law Persists, Discovery Outsourcing Remains Alert & Ready
A recent national survey by the Pew Research Center and USA Today of 1500 adults found that 53% of Americans...
Uncertainty in Health Care Law Persists, Discovery Outsourcing Remains Alert & Ready
A recent national survey by the Pew Research Center and USA Today of 1500 adults found that 53% of Americans...
...disapprove of the law. That’s up from the survey taken immediately following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law, which saw disapproval at 43%.
A few more highlights from the survey:
compliance partner, and we have the resources to monitor the twists and turns so you don’t have to. Of course, no one can predict the future, especially when it comes to health care reform, but here’s the top 5 things you need to know today:
1. The Delay in the Employer Mandate: The mandate was originally slated for a January 1, 2014 effective date for employers
with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees. For employers who had non-calendar year plans meeting certain requirements (as was the case with many Discovery Outsourcing worksite employers), the mandate was effective on their
plan renewal date in 2014. Recently, the mandate was delayed until January 1, 2015. If you are an employer with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees, this is when you will be subject to the mandate. There is no indication at this
time that there will be a non-calendar year transition rule for non-calendar year plans for 2015, but we will continue to watch to see how developments unfold.
2. Withholding the additional .9% Medicare tax: This new tax is required on employees who receive wages in excess of
$200,000 annually and went into effect on January 1, 2013. Discovery Outsourcing’s systems were updated prior to 1/1/2013 to collect the additional tax, so there is no action required on your part.
3. Marketplace or "Exchange" Notices: The notices are required to be provided to employees by October 1, 2013. As mentioned earlier, these are being mailed this week on behalf of Discovery Outsourcing’s family of clients that offer their employees Discovery Outsourcing-sponsored health plans and for those clients sponsoring their own plan where Discovery manages the administration. Employees may have questions concerning the notices or about health care reform
overall, so feel free to refer them to Discovery Outsourcing.
4. Individual Mandate: The individual mandate has not been delayed and goes into effect as scheduled on January 1, 2014 – but there is an exception, and it applies to many Discovery Outsourcing worksite employees. Employees of companies who were with Discovery Outsourcing and offered benefits to at least one-third of their employees during the 11/1/2012 open enrollment OR who were with Discovery Outsourcing and had at least one-quarter of their employees covered as of December 27, 2012 are not subject to the individual mandate until November 1, 2014.
5. W2 Reporting: It’s nearing the end of the year. Reporting of employer contributions to medical coverage is required to be
reported in employee forms W2. You may recall this from last year, as it was the first year of the new requirement. For clients covered under Discovery-sponsored plans, or those plans where we handle the administration, there is nothing you
need to do. This information is captured in our system and will be reported.
Yes, there is uncertainty about the health reform law and it’s not going to end anytime soon. So just remember you’ve got Discovery to help to see you through it. Think of us as your ACA Hotline and give us a call at 303.225.0400 or email us at [email protected] if you have a question.
Remember, we’re here to help.
www.discoveryoutsourcing.com
A few more highlights from the survey:
- 53% of people who disapprove of the law are divided over what course of action they prefer: try to make the law better, or scrap it altogether.
- 63% say the law hasn’t affected them yet, but more expect that the impact will be negative rather than positive.
- Only 25% say they have a very good understanding of how the law will impact them.
- Even the uninsured are divided – 49% approve while 46% disapprove.
compliance partner, and we have the resources to monitor the twists and turns so you don’t have to. Of course, no one can predict the future, especially when it comes to health care reform, but here’s the top 5 things you need to know today:
1. The Delay in the Employer Mandate: The mandate was originally slated for a January 1, 2014 effective date for employers
with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees. For employers who had non-calendar year plans meeting certain requirements (as was the case with many Discovery Outsourcing worksite employers), the mandate was effective on their
plan renewal date in 2014. Recently, the mandate was delayed until January 1, 2015. If you are an employer with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees, this is when you will be subject to the mandate. There is no indication at this
time that there will be a non-calendar year transition rule for non-calendar year plans for 2015, but we will continue to watch to see how developments unfold.
2. Withholding the additional .9% Medicare tax: This new tax is required on employees who receive wages in excess of
$200,000 annually and went into effect on January 1, 2013. Discovery Outsourcing’s systems were updated prior to 1/1/2013 to collect the additional tax, so there is no action required on your part.
3. Marketplace or "Exchange" Notices: The notices are required to be provided to employees by October 1, 2013. As mentioned earlier, these are being mailed this week on behalf of Discovery Outsourcing’s family of clients that offer their employees Discovery Outsourcing-sponsored health plans and for those clients sponsoring their own plan where Discovery manages the administration. Employees may have questions concerning the notices or about health care reform
overall, so feel free to refer them to Discovery Outsourcing.
4. Individual Mandate: The individual mandate has not been delayed and goes into effect as scheduled on January 1, 2014 – but there is an exception, and it applies to many Discovery Outsourcing worksite employees. Employees of companies who were with Discovery Outsourcing and offered benefits to at least one-third of their employees during the 11/1/2012 open enrollment OR who were with Discovery Outsourcing and had at least one-quarter of their employees covered as of December 27, 2012 are not subject to the individual mandate until November 1, 2014.
5. W2 Reporting: It’s nearing the end of the year. Reporting of employer contributions to medical coverage is required to be
reported in employee forms W2. You may recall this from last year, as it was the first year of the new requirement. For clients covered under Discovery-sponsored plans, or those plans where we handle the administration, there is nothing you
need to do. This information is captured in our system and will be reported.
Yes, there is uncertainty about the health reform law and it’s not going to end anytime soon. So just remember you’ve got Discovery to help to see you through it. Think of us as your ACA Hotline and give us a call at 303.225.0400 or email us at [email protected] if you have a question.
Remember, we’re here to help.
www.discoveryoutsourcing.com