Wednesday, July 10, 2013

POSSIBLE DELAYS TO THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE UNDER TRANSITION RELIEF

According to IRS Notice 2013-42, for non-calendar year Medical Plans, transition relief is available for those plans that begin in 2013 and end in 2014.  If your coverage is available through an employer, depending upon when that coverage is made available to you (or your spouse) would depend upon when you would need to obtain coverage.

Example 1. You are eligible for enrollment in a non-calendar year employer sponsored medical plan beginning August 1, 2013 and ending July 31, 2014.  You have parent/child coverage for you and your 10-year old son.  You do not elect coverage for yourself/son on August 1, 2013.  Under this rule you would have transition relief through July 31, 2014.  If you do not elect coverage at this time, penalties would be assessed.

Example 2. You are Married and both you and your spouse are eligible for enrollment in a Non-Calendar Year Plan of an Employer for the 2013-2014 Plan Year and in a Calendar Year Plan with your Spouse’s Employer for 2014.  Your plan begins August 1, 2013 and ends July 31, 2014.  Your spouses plan begins January 1, 2014.  You do not elect coverage for you and your spouse under your plan August 1, 2013 and your spouse does not elect coverage for the both of you on January 1, 2014. In this example both you and your spouse would have transition relief until your plan renewal in August of 2014.  If at this time, no coverage was elected, penalties would be assessed.

(From IRS Notice 2013-42)