When administering COBRA, it is important to have a trusted partner who knows the COBRA rules and requirements. Benefit Allocation Systems’ Cobra Control Services, LLC (CCS) provides that trust for companies of all sizes. CCS has automated processes, all supervised by a tenured employee benefits attorney. Working with CCS helps employers avoid the top complaints against employers for lack of COBRA compliance. Those complaints, as reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), generally revolve around a few key administrative and communication issues that CCS’ processes avoid:
- Delayed or Missing COBRA Notices: Employers or COBRA administrators sometimes fail to send COBRA election notices in a timely manner, which can prevent or delay individuals from enrolling. When employer timely enter a qualifying event letter request into MyEnroll360, CCS sends the required notice within 3 business days.
- Enrollment Packet Issues: Individuals often report not receiving their COBRA enrollment packet, which includes critical information needed to continue their healthcare coverage. CCS uses the Department of Labor Model COBRA notices to ensure employers provide the information that must be provided to potential COBRA continuants.
- Payment Processing Errors: There are frequent complaints about payments not being properly processed or acknowledged, leading to lapses in coverage or unnecessary penalties. CCS provides a lock box for continuants to send payments and those payments are forwarded to employers timely.
- Coverage Disputes: COBRA recipients sometimes find that despite paying premiums, providers do not recognize their coverage, or they face issues with coverage limits and exclusions not being clearly communicated. CCS sends automated notices to employers advising when continuants elect and pay for COBRA coverage. Employers use these notices to reinstate coverage with carriers.
- Plan Changes Not Communicated: If an employer switches health plans or makes significant changes to coverage terms, failing to communicate these changes can significantly impact beneficiaries. Upon request, CCS can send COBRA continuants information about plan changes.
- Lack of Support or Poor Customer Service: Many complaints relate to poor customer service, including difficulty reaching a representative, unhelpful responses, and a lack of support in resolving issues. CCS has a team of in-house client services specialists that are well trained in addressing COBRA questions.
These issues highlight the importance of diligent administration and clear, consistent COBRA communication. For more information about CCS’ COBRA processes, contact your account manager or info@cobracontrol.com.
Benefit Allocation Systems (BAS) provides best-in-class, online solutions for: Employee Benefits Enrollment; COBRA; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs); Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs); Leave of Absence Premium Billing (LOA); Affordable Care Act Record Keeping, Compliance & IRS Reporting (ACA); Group Insurance Premium Billing; Property & Casualty Premium Billing; and Payroll Integration.
MyEnroll360 can Integrate with any insurance carrier for enrollment eligibility management (e.g., Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, United Health Care, Kaiser, CIGNA and many others), and integrate with any payroll system for enrollment deduction management (e.g., Workday, ADP, Paylocity, PayCor, UKG, and many others).