California Extends Special Enrollment Period
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Due to the enormous challenges the coronavirus crisis is imposing on our healthcare system, the state of California has extended its Special Enrollment period.
Effective immediately, the Special Enrollment period for 2020 has been extended through June 30. According to a press release by Covered California, the healthcare exchange will be hosting two webinars explaining the Special Enrollment periods, as well as tips, tools, and resources for ensuring individuals can enroll successfully.
Residents that live within the Los Angeles and Inland Empire regions should register for this webinar.
Residents that live within the Orange County and San Diego regions should register for this webinar.
Covered California has also released a COVID-19 fact sheet for healthcare enrollees, new and current. You can view it here.
Amidst one of the largest pandemics in U.S. history and the unprecedented statewide ‘Stay at Home’ order from Governor Newsom asking residents to limit unnecessary contact and engage in social distancing, enrollees should know that all Medi-Cal and Covered California plans offer telehealth options. In addition, “all medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 are free of charge.”
Executive Director of Covered California, Peter V. Lee stated in a press release, “We want to get as many people covered as possible to ensure they have access to the health care they need.”
Earlier this year the Covered California announced the special enrollment period as a result of the Individual Mandate penalty that went into effect this year. The further extension of the Special Enrollment period reflects the severity of the coronavirus’s impact on our healthcare.
Everyone is being affected by coronavirus, COVID-19 and employers should ensure that their staff have the coverage they need during this critical time. Employers should note that it is also their responsibility to offer ACAcompliant health coverage to full-timeemployees,as required by the Employer Mandate.
As a reminder to employers in conjunction with the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment (ESRP), the ACA’s Employer Mandate, Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) organizations with 50 or more full-time employees and full-time equivalent employees) are required to offer Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) to at least 95% of their full-time workforce (and their dependents) whereby such coverage meets Minimum Value (MV) and is Affordable for the employee or be subject to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 4980H penalties.
For the seeable future, daily business activities will continue to be disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Fluctuating hours, telecommunicating, and temporary hires are just some of the challenges employers may face during this critical time. These challenges could significantly impact your ACA compliance process, subjecting your organization to significant IRS penalty assessments.
Now would be a great time to consider outsourcing ACA compliance.Contact us to see how ACA Complete could help your organization.
We’re committed to helping companies reduce risk, avoid penalties, and achieve 100% ACA compliance. For questions about the ACA contact us here.
