http://www.cobraguard.net/blog en nick.bradburn@cobraguard.net Copyright 2010 2010-03-01T13:27:11+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/in-search-of-roo/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/in-search-of-roo/ We’ve all heard of ROI, but are you familiar with the new acronym – ROO? Here’s how to optimize your client’s “return on outsourcing” when it comes to COBRA administration. Discover how to leverage savings opportunities and where you should never pinch pennies in this eye-opening list of dos and don’ts. Read More… Published Articles 2010-03-01T12:27:11+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobraguard-partners-with-tha-to-offer-texas-hospitals-cobra-relief/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobraguard-partners-with-tha-to-offer-texas-hospitals-cobra-relief/ MISSION, Kan., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/—COBRAGuard Inc. has been endorsed by the Texas Hospital Association (THA) to offer Texas hospitals an affordable and efficient COBRA administration solution. The endorsement gives Texas hospitals access to COBRAGuard’s proprietary pricing, products and services designed to streamline COBRA processes, improve compliance and minimize the risk of costly litigation. For decades, Texas hospitals have relied on the Texas Hospital Association to be their advocate, helping them navigate challenges and tackle tough issues head on. Partnering with COBRAGuard is one more way THA brings value and support to Texas hospitals. “We believe COBRAGuard is the healthcare industry’s best choice for quality, cost-effective COBRA administration,” said James Dixon, president/chief executive officer of HealthSHARE, THA’s marketing subsidiary which works with endorsed companies. COBRAGuard, a Certified COBRA Administrator, provides organizations with automated, web-based COBRA administration. By offering a sophisticated suite of solutions and technology, COBRAGuard helps organizations control administrative costs, tighten record-keeping and documentation, heighten efficiency, minimize the risk of non-compliance penalties and fines, plus much more. “COBRA has always been complicated to administer, and now with the ARRA premium subsidy and recent extension, administration is even more complex,” said Robert Meyers, president of COBRAGuard Inc. “We’re excited to work with the Texas Hospital Association and feel this partnership represents a great opportunity to help Texas hospitals control COBRA risks and liabilities through automated, outsourced administration.” Using a COBRA administrator will allow Texas hospitals to focus on providing accessible, cost-effective, high-quality care to clients, not the complexities of COBRA. And now, with COBRAGuard’s on-demand COBRA administration, Texas hospitals have the opportunity to save time, money and headaches by eliminating COBRA hassles once and for all. About COBRAGuard Inc. COBRAGuard Inc. is a Certified COBRA Administrator (CCA), helping employers control risks and liabilities, prevent adverse claims and save time and money. The company serves more than 3,000 organizations nationwide and it stands behind its services with a 100 percent compliance guarantee. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.cobraguard.net.  About the Texas Hospital Association Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85 percent of the state’s acute-care hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 355,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at http://www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/texashospitals. For more information, contact Rick McCarthy at 913-499-4865 or . Press Releases 2010-02-26T12:15:02+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/want-to-get-into-cobra-administration-heres-your-chance/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/want-to-get-into-cobra-administration-heres-your-chance/ Well-known TPA COBRAGuard now offers a program that will let others administer COBRA for clients under their own brand name. President and CEO Bob Meyers shares why it’s worth the investment. Read More… Rich Media 2010-02-05T12:53:29+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/new-year-brings-new-dilemmas/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/new-year-brings-new-dilemmas/ Although 2010 holds promise, don’t sweep 2009 open-enrollments under the rug just yet. The plan changes made in 2009 often lead to plan complications in 2010. Now’s the perfect time to make sure that your clients have their COBRA houses in order. Here are four areas to check on to pave the way for a smooth year. Read More… Published Articles 2010-02-01T12:54:42+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/new-program-provides-cobra-relief-for-third-party-administrators/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/new-program-provides-cobra-relief-for-third-party-administrators/ MISSION, Kan., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/—COBRAGuard, a certified COBRA administrator, announces the launch of a Third Party Administrator (TPA) program. Under the new program, COBRA administration is put into action under the TPA’s own brand, allowing seamless value delivery. The TPA gains COBRA efficiencies and expertise without sacrificing the consultative client connection. Services include a dedicated phone line, dedicated account representatives, private labeling, comprehensive COBRA reporting including ARRA 941 and monthly remit reports, shared staffing arrangements and preferred tier pricing. COBRA has always been complex to administer. But now, with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) premium subsidy and the recent extension, administration is more difficult than ever before. For third party employee benefit administrators, there’s never been a better time to address this pain point by outsourcing COBRA responsibilities to a specialist. ARRA, which was enacted in February 2009, includes a 65 percent COBRA subsidy that helps defray COBRA insurance premiums for up to nine months. A December 19 bill extended the COBRA subsidy expiration date from Dec. 31 to Feb. 28, 2010, and added six months to the subsidy to allow for a maximum of up to 15 months of assistance. “Since the subsidy was introduced, studies have shown that the number of COBRA participants has doubled and the amount of work related to COBRA administration is three to five times what it was due to the confusion, tax implications and new reporting requirements under ARRA,” said Cathryn Scivicque, Vice President of Employer Services. “For many third party health administrators, the best way to navigate through all of this is by outsourcing to a professional,” said Robert Meyers, President of COBRAGuard Inc. “Especially now, as employers continue to cut jobs in this economy.” Using a COBRA administrator allows third party administrators to focus on what they do best—managing employee benefits. And now, with an affordable, private-label option, health TPAs have an unparalleled opportunity to provide customer value while maintaining the highest standards and limiting their professional liability. Outsourcing creates a win for everyone involved. About COBRAGuard Inc. COBRAGuard Inc. is a Certified COBRA Administrator (CCA), helping employers control risks and liabilities, prevent adverse claims and save time and money. The company serves more than 3,000 organizations nationwide and it stands behind its services with a 100 percent compliance guarantee. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.cobraguard.net. To learn more about the COBRAGuard’s TPA program, contact Rick McCarthy at 913-499-4865 or . Press Releases 2010-01-13T12:20:23+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/why-better-brokers-offer-cobra/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/why-better-brokers-offer-cobra/ Your goal is to sell health insurance, so why confuse the issue by introducing COBRA administration? Because if you don’t, another agent will. Learn how to educate your employers and close the door on your competition. Read More… Published Articles 2010-01-01T12:57:59+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobra-subsidy-webinar/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobra-subsidy-webinar/ President Obama signed the bill containing the COBRA subsidy extension into law on Dec. 19, 2009.  With this extension, employers must act quickly to fulfill their notice obligations, update carriers and adjust administrative procedures. To smooth the transition, COBRAGuard Inc. is offering a free Webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. Central Time. The Webinar is entitled, “How to Get it Right the First Time – Your Action Plan for the ARRA Extension.” Company President Robert Meyers says, “A lot of people are talking about the core elements of the bill, but no one is saying much about what exactly must be done. Our goal is to give employers a practical guide.” The free Webinar is open to the first 1,000 people who enroll online at http://www.cobraguard.net. Employers, third party administrators and insurance brokers are welcome. In addition, other Webinars are scheduled for COBRAGuard members. The Action Plan Webinar will cover notice obligations, eligibility and subsidy timelines. It will also go beyond the basics to delve into the practical dilemmas and potential stumbling points, such as: How to retroactively deal with COBRA participants that exhausted the original 9-month subsidy How to communicate with those who are now eligible but weren’t previously How this change affects open enrollment- don’t leave anyone behind What steps should be taken to notify new carriers of extension-eligible participants How to balance year-end reporting and 941 forms “We’ve been anticipating the extension for a while and we’ve already modified our systems, notices and invoices so that our employers and their COBRA participants will have a seamless experience,” Meyers says. “We’re ready to pave the way for others because we’ve already explored many of the intricacies.” The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was enacted back in February 2009, includes a 65 percent COBRA subsidy that helps defray COBRA insurance premiums for up to 9 months. The December 19 bill extends the COBRA subsidy expiration date from Dec. 31 to until Feb. 28, 2010, and adds six months to the subsidy to allow for a maximum of up to 15 months of assistance.  Many believe that this extension is just a band-aid, and that another extension will be passed prior to the Feb. 28 expiration date. “It’s a challenging situation for employers who are trying to manage COBRA in-house. Just when they’ve met their notice requirements this coming February, it’s quite likely that the next phase of the extension will hit, and they’ll have to start adapting all over again,” Meyers explains.   Press Releases 2009-12-31T13:20:54+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobraguard-offers-free-action-plan-webinar-to-assist-employers-with-cobra-s/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobraguard-offers-free-action-plan-webinar-to-assist-employers-with-cobra-s/ MISSION, Kan., Dec. 31 /PRNewswire/—President Obama signed the bill containing the COBRA subsidy extension into law on Dec. 19, 2009. With this extension, employers must act quickly to fulfill their notice obligations, update carriers and adjust administrative procedures. To smooth the transition, COBRAGuard Inc. is offering a free Webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. Central Time. The Webinar is entitled, “How to Get it Right the First Time - Your Action Plan for the ARRA Extension.” Company President Robert Meyers says, “A lot of people are talking about the core elements of the bill, but no one is saying much about what exactly must be done. Our goal is to give employers a practical guide.” The free Webinar is open to the first 1,000 people who enroll online at http://www.cobraguard.net. Employers, third party administrators and insurance brokers are welcome. In addition, other Webinars are scheduled for COBRAGuard members. The Action Plan Webinar will cover notice obligations, eligibility and subsidy timelines. It will also go beyond the basics to delve into the practical dilemmas and potential stumbling points, such as:   * How to retroactively deal with COBRA participants that exhausted the original 9-month subsidy   * How to communicate with those who are now eligible but weren’t previously   * How this change affects open enrollment and how you can be sure that you don’t leave anyone behind   * What steps should be taken to notify new carriers of extension-eligible participants   * How to balance year-end reporting and 941 forms “We’ve been anticipating the extension for a while and we’ve already modified our systems, notices and invoices so that our employers and their COBRA participants will have a seamless experience,” Meyers says. “We’re ready to pave the way for others because we’ve already explored many of the intricacies.” The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was enacted back in February 2009, includes a 65 percent COBRA subsidy that helps defray COBRA insurance premiums for up to 9 months. The December 19 bill extends the COBRA subsidy expiration date from Dec. 31 to until Feb. 28, 2010, and adds six months to the subsidy to allow for a maximum of up to 15 months of assistance. Many believe that this extension is just a band-aid, and that another extension will be passed prior to the Feb. 28 expiration date. “It’s a challenging situation for employers who are trying to manage COBRA in-house. Just when they’ve met their notice requirements this coming February, it’s quite likely that the next phase of the extension will hit, and they’ll have to start adapting all over again,” Meyers explains. About COBRAGuard Inc. COBRAGuard Inc. is a Certified COBRA Administrator (CCA), helping employers control risks and liabilities, prevent adverse claims and save time and money. The company serves more than 3,000 organizations nationwide and it stands behind its services with a 100 percent compliance guarantee. For more information, and to enroll in the free Action Plan Webinar, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.cobraguard.net or contact Robert Meyers at 913-499-4860. Press Releases 2009-12-31T11:45:16+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobra-dilemma-subsidy-status/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/cobra-dilemma-subsidy-status/ Although ARRA’s COBRA subsidy period is set to expire Dec. 31 and lawmakers are pushing for an extension, a decision has not yet been made. If passed, it’s still unclear what form an extension of the COBRA subsidy program will take. Bills were introduced recently in the House and the Senate that not only extend COBRA benefits through June, but also increase the current subsidy of 65 percent to 75 percent. It’s unclear if the subsidy increase will apply to all current ARRA-eligible COBRA participants, newly-employed or both. It’s also unclear if those who have received 65 percent will be entitled to any adjustment for their time already on COBRA. While uncertainty remains, it’s important to prepare for year-end and get ready for the possibility of a COBRA subsidy extension in the year ahead by taking these critical steps: Report fourth quarter ARRA credits. Currently, eligible employees pay 35 percent of their COBRA premium and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the employer through a tax credit. Employers should use the updated Form 941, Employers Quarterly Federal Tax Return, to claim their COBRA premium assistance payments. Accurate reporting is critical – make sure to double-check your list of active participants and maintain good documentation. Notify your participants of premium changes. Once the period ends, participants will be responsible for the ENTIRE portion of the COBRA premium. That means those who had a qualifying event on March 1, should pay 100 percent of the premium on Dec. 1. So, make sure to keep your participants up-to-date, let them know what invoice adjustments to expect so there are no surprises. This will be an ongoing process over the next year as your participants cycle through the current nine-month subsidy expiration. Utilize proper notices. Employees who were laid off before Dec. 31, and who are otherwise COBRA-eligible, may continue getting the subsidy. But those laid off after Dec. 31 (or those who are not COBRA-eligible until after Dec. 31) will not, unless an extension is passed. In response, you’ll need to amend COBRA notices and forms yet again, going back to the forms used before the subsidy started. Create a communication strategy. If the program is extended, plan to alert all COBRA participants immediately. Communications should include all changes, how they affect participants and how payments will change. Once participants are notified of the extension, you should continue to inform participants of impending deadlines and expirations. Did You Know? Without the subsidy, COBRA premiums for family health coverage costs laid-off workers, on average, $1,111 a month. That amount is almost 84 percent of the average monthly unemployment check, according to Families USA, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Ron Pollack, the group’s executive director, predicts most people who lose the subsidy will become uninsured because of the high cost of health care coverage. Connections When should you notify COBRA participants of upcoming subsidy and COBRA invoice changes? More information on ARRA and COBRA subsidy assistance can be found at: The US Department of Labor Internal Revenue Service Text from COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009 Text from Extended COBRA Continuation Protection Act of 2009 E-newsletter 2009-12-18T19:34:17+00:00 http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/when-arra-collides-with-the-christmas-party/ http://www.cobraguard.net/blog/article/when-arra-collides-with-the-christmas-party/ Employers across the nation are struggling with a gargantuan problem: How to merge ARRA COBRA compliance with payroll tax reporting. For HR professionals who don’t moonlight as accountants, the problem is overwhelming. Here’s what you need to know to minimize ARRA’s COBRA headaches. Read More… Published Articles 2009-12-01T12:58:32+00:00