Please review the information below for Benefitfocus HBRs.
Payroll Attribute Changes Report
The State Health Plan recently became aware that the Payroll Attribute Changes Report, which highlights the Annual Enrollment election changes made for the 7/1/13 effective date is not working properly. It includes all employees, even those who did not make changes. Benefitfocus is working with agencies that do not have a payroll feed integration with eEnroll to provide the option of a custom report that shows only the Annual Enrollment election changes. Agencies also can continue to use the Benefit Comparison Report that provides Annual Enrollment elections in a spreadsheet format. Please contact your Account manager with any questions.
Tasks Being Generated Due to Missing Termination Reason
The termination reasons enhancement that was enabled last month is generating tasks under "Employee Needs More Data" for employees who were terminated prior to the termination reasons enhancement being deployed. These tasks indicate that a "Work - Specify Termination Status" is required. Benefitfocus is running task recalculations to remove these tasks from your queues.
New Reduction in Force Process for Benefitfocus Groups
The State Health Plan has implemented a new process for members who are terminated due to a Reduction in Force (RIF) and qualify for health coverage.
How to terminate coverage
Effective with June 30 RIF terminations, HBRs should use the Reduction in Force event that has been added to the eEnroll system that will allow the HBR to cancel the coverage for the member and their dependents.
The system will automatically terminate the coverage the last day of the month of the RIF event date.
Process for Enrolling in 12-Month Reduction in Force Health Benefit
Effective July 1, 2013, Benefitfocus will mail eligible members the Reduction in Force Application. Once the member completes and returns the application to the HBR, the HBR should use the Reduction in Force event that has been added to the eEnroll system to enroll the member and dependents in coverage effective the first of the month following the separation date.
However, an HBR does not need to wait for the RIF'd employee to receive the paperwork. If the HBR prefers, the RIF enrollment process can occur during the exit interview. The RIF application can be found on the State Health Plan website. The HBR and the RIF'd employee can complete the paperwork and the 12-month RIF coverage can be entered into the system at that time.
New Billing Process
Employing units will no longer receive two separate bills for their active group and the RIF subgroup. Beginning with the invoice received in June for July premiums, the state monthly contribution amount for the RIF members will be included in the active group bill. The member will be billed directly by COBRAGuard for any dependent premium or if they are enrolled in the 80/20 Standard plan.
If the member is enrolled in the 80/20 Standard plan and the premium is not received within 30 days, COBRAGuard will move the member to the 70/30 Basic plan. If the member has dependent coverage and the premium is not received within 30 days, coverage for their dependents will be terminated as of the last day of the month through which premiums have been paid.
Forever RIF Process
Prior to the end of 12-month RIF health coverage, the member and dependents will be automatically canceled with an end date equal to the end of 12- months of coverage. This cancellation is sent to COBRAGuard to trigger the Forever RIF letter to the member. The member should complete and return the form back to COBRAGuard to enroll in the Forever RIF health coverage. COBRAGuard will then bill the member directly for the full amount of the premium.
