On Feb. 20, 2014, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury released final regula­tions on the Affordable Care Act’s 90-day waiting period limit. These regula­tions generally finalize provi­sions in proposed regula­tions issued in March 2013, with minimal changes. At the same time, the Departments released a separate proposed rule regarding a new provision permitting orien­tation periods under the 90-day waiting period limit.

Under these regula­tions, employers may require employees to success­fully complete a reasonable and bona fide employment-based orien­tation period as a condition for eligi­bility for coverage under a plan. However, the orien­tation period may not exceed one month. In addition, the final regula­tions provide that a former employee who is rehired may be treated as newly eligible for coverage upon rehire, and may be required to satisfy the plan’s waiting period again.

The final regula­tions apply for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2015. However, the 2013 proposed regula­tions provided that the 90-day waiting period limit would apply for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014. Thus, for plan years beginning in 2014, the Departments will consider compliance with either the 2013 proposed regula­tions or the final regula­tions to constitute compliance with the 90-day waiting period limit requirement.

Health Care Reform is up and running. This brief document explains how groups such as employees of large companies, children with pre-existing condi­tions and the elderly will be affected by the health care reform legis­lation. Helpful quick hit for those with questions.

Read the article here: HCR-What Does It Mean For You

The U.S. government has announced that the employer mandate, one of the most significant portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), will not be enforced until 2015.

Under the provision, companies with 50 or more full-time employees would have faced fines of up to $3,000 per employee if they didn’t offer their employees affordable health insurance.

The one year delay is designed to accomplish two goals:

• Allow the government to consider ways to simplify the new reporting requirements consistent with the law
• Provide time to adapt health coverage and reporting systems while employers are moving forward with offering affordable coverage to their employees

Click here for more information directly from the Treasury Department’s website.

Health care reform brings preventative care benefits at no cost to you. What is covered? Find out here!  Healthcare.gov