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Open enrollment for small business owners




We know that running a business can be challenging, but we at Epia are here to help you! In this article, we bring you answers to some of the top questions about Open enrollment coming this November.

Regardless of your state, be aware of how to provide the best for your employees and keep your company within the law.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, employers of 50 or more employees are legally required to have an open enrollment period. Many smaller employers may also be required to have an open enrollment period as a condition of their agreement with their health insurance provider or due to local laws.

If you provide health insurance to your employees, you can contact your provider's benefits representative to help you determine whether open enrollment should be offered, and what else you may need to do based on your health insurance coverage agreement.

If you are an employer that does not offer health insurance, it may be helpful to provide your employees with information about the health insurance programs available in your area and how they can enroll.


How do small businesses start offering health benefits?

Some providers offer plans that are fully funded, which means that the plan is sponsored by the health insurance company rather than the employer. The benefit of this type of plan is that the fees are predictable, but are often more expensive than a self-funded plan. In contrast, the employer can sponsor a self-funded plan. This means, as an employer, you pay your employees' claims as they come in. Self-funded plans require much more administration, but can sometimes be the right choice, depending on the business. Before selecting a self-funded plan, it maybe wise to consult an attorney due to the complexity and greater financial unpredictability of these plans.

The best way to start providing health insurance benefits is to simply start researching and asking questions to learn about your options. But thinking of your company, we at EPIA.Inc want to make this process easier, in a practical and secure way you can access our free quote platform.


What happens if a business or employee misses open enrollment?

An employee who misses open enrollment may not be able to change their health insurance unless they have a qualifying life event. Most insurance providers, however, allow a 30-day grace period after open enrollment for employees to update their choices. If employees act quickly, they may be able to take advantage of this grace period.

Count on our team to answer questions and keep your employees in compliance with their benefits.


Open enrollment periods are generally required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for employers who, on average, have at least 50 full-time employees. If an employer fails open enrollment, the insurance provider may impose certain consequences based on its contract with the employer. There may be tax consequences, penalties, or other legal issues that arise in the employment context as well.



Is it legal to auto-enroll employees if they forget to enroll?

Yes. Employers can auto-enroll employees if they do not choose an insurance plan. However, employers may have to meet very specific requirements for automatic enrollment. For example, enrollment may have to be for the lowest-cost medical plan. They may also have to provide certain notices about the automatic enrollment process, let employees decline coverage, and tell employees when they can choose a different option.

Auto-enrollment policies are not required, so small employers may want to avoid them unless there is a compelling reason to use this type of policy, such as a local employment law requiring employers to provide health benefits. Insurance providers may be able to provide employees directly with information about their plans and auto-enrollment details, or they may have forms that an employer can provide to their employees.

Make sure your coverage is right for you, feel safe and secure,

and contact us!

Get in touch: info@epiagroup.com, (626) 912-1988

Source : https://www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/employers-and-hr/company-policies/legal-guide/guide-to-open-enrollment-for-small-business-owners


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EPIA inc. is a private Insurance Agency with no ties with legal entities. The information contained in this article is based on information provided by the Medicare Official Website.








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