[MyOEBB] Transition Relief

[MyOEBB system updates]

Dear Business Managers, Superintendents and Benefits Administrators:
Starting January 1, 2014, the federal health care reform law will require almost all Americans to have health care coverage or be subject to a penalty tax. To help people comply with this change, the federal government has issued regulations allowing employers whose benefit plan year start date is not January 1 (like OEBB plans) to offer their employees a one-time opportunity to add or drop coverage for themselves and/or their eligible dependents. They are calling this opportunity the "Transition Relief Change Period."
OEBB has temporarily amended administrative rules to provide for the Transition Relief Change Period, so you may offer this opportunity to your employees and early retirees if you choose. You are not required to do so.
The Temporary Rule language can be found on the OEBB website Administrative Rules page, Temporary section, or by clicking here:
www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/DivisionRules/2013/TEMP_Div40_Oct2013.pdf<http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/DivisionRules/2013/TEMP_Div40_Oct2013.pdf>
If you do choose to offer the Transition Relief Change Period at your entity, you can find "Transition Relief QSC Change Forms" on the Entity Forms page of the OEBB website:

http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/entity/Pages/eeforms.aspx#Forms_for_Employing_Entities



Active employees and early retirees have different Transition Relief QSC Change forms, so it is clear as to which changes are allowed for each. To enter these changes into the MyOEBB system, use the Transition Relief QSC.
The changes allowed are restricted to the following:
Active Employees:

*         Can enroll in medical, dental and/or vision coverage if they are not currently enrolled.

*         Can add eligible dependents to their medical, dental and/or vision coverage

*         Can remove currently enrolled dependents from medical, dental and/or vision plans

*         Can drop medical, dental and/or vision plans

*         Cannot move from one OEBB medical, dental or vision plan to another


Early Retirees:

*         Can remove currently enrolled dependents from medical, dental and/or vision plans

*         Can drop medical, dental and/or vision plans

*         Cannot move from one OEBB medical, dental or vision plan to another

*         Cannot enroll in medical, dental and/or vision coverage if they are not currently enrolled.

*         Cannot add eligible dependents to their medical, dental and/or vision coverage
Keep in mind that, as always, early retirees who drop coverage may not re-enroll at a future Open Enrollment period, and dependents removed by an early retiree may not be re-enrolled at a future Open Enrollment period.

Special Considerations for Employees Dropping Medical Coverage (Opting out or Waiving Medical Coverage)
First a quick reminder on the distinction between "waiving" and "opting out":
Opt-Out - The member receives financial incentive from the employing entity in lieu of OEBB medical coverage. The member must be enrolled in other employer-sponsored group medical coverage.
Waive - The member chooses not to enroll in OEBB medical coverage, but receives no financial incentive from the employing entity in lieu of coverage. (The member is not required to be enrolled in other employer-sponsored group medical coverage.)
During the Transition Relief Change Period, an employee can waive or opt-out of OEBB medical coverage; however, if an employee receives any financial incentive from your entity for not taking medical coverage (i.e., opting out), the employee must be covered under another employer-sponsored group medical plan. Cover Oregon is not an employer-sponsored group medical plan.  If an employee has other group coverage through their spouse/partner's employer, a parent's employer, or their own employment in a second job, they could qualify to opt-out and receive a financial incentive from your entity for doing so, if this is something that is offered.

We hope this message helps make this complex change easier to understand and that you find it helpful in assisting your members. If you have further questions, please call OEBB Member Services at 888-469-6322 or send an email to oebb.benefits at state.or.us<mailto:oebb.benefits at state.or.us>.
Sincerely,

Denise L. Hall
Denise L. Hall, Deputy Administrator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
http://egov.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB<http://egov.oregon.gov/DAS/OEBB>

OEBB encourages all members to stay healthy and be happy!!!!     Pass it on.....
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB/pages/welllinks.aspx


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