NEW: 2018 ACA Open Enrollment Checklist

Public sector employers: New Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes will affect your health insurance for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. It’s time to review your plan to make sure you are in compliance, or ask your consultant to help. Below is a brief overview of some of the changes.

Plan Design Issues

2018 ACA changes include some new compliance guidelines, changes to certain annual limits, and other rules.

• Check to see if your plan’s out-of-pocket maximum comply with the ACA 2018 limits
• If you have a HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan), does your out-of-pocket maximum and deductible comply with the 2018 limits?
• The HSA contribution limit has increased

ACA Disclosure Requirements

Make sure your employees receive a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). This document helps them understand their coverage and make coverage decisions. For fully insured groups, your health insurance carrier should be providing this summary. If you are self-insured, check with your 3^rd party administrator to see if they will be providing it or if the task falls on you.

Note that the SBC must be provided to employees who enroll or re-enroll during an open enrollment period or are newly eligible for coverage. Effective April 1, 2017, you must use the new template issued by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury during your open enrollment period or plan years beginning on or after April 1, 2017.

Additional Notices

Employers can include additional enrollment and annual notices during the open enrollment period, notifying employees about their rights in regard to HIPAA, COBRA, WHCRA (Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act), Medicare Part D, your wellness program, and more. There are certain notices that new hires need to receive within 90 days after the plan coverage begins. Some notices need to be provided on an annual basis to all employees. Other notices may need to be provided periodically (like every three, five or ten years, depending on the notice). The checklist provides some model language that you can use.

For more details, download the 2018 Open Enrollment Checklist.