Recent CMS guidance extended a group’s ability to keep their transitional relief plans through the end of 2017 for states that have agreed to the extension. Our focus is to support groups in making decisions in light of these new options. Options for groups based on current effective plan year

Options for groups with renewals in Quarter 4

• The employer group can renew as usual this year with their current plan year of October, November or December. Then they can move to an ACA plan with adjusted community rating on their normal renewal in 2017; OR

• The employer may choose to move their plan year to January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017. Groups would first accept their October 1, November 1, or December 1, renewal, complete a plan year change attestation form, and then move to an ACA plan on their January 1, 2018 renewal.

Options for groups with renewals in February to September

• The employer can stay on their original renewal cycle, and move to an ACA plan option at their first renewal in 2017; OR

• The employer may choose to move their plan year to January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. To do this option, the group will need to confirm their current renewal, sign a plan year change attestation form moving to January 1, 2017, and submit the signed form to UnitedHealthcare by July 15, 2016

Next steps We are working closely with employer groups who want to make some modifications to their plan year to take advantage of the new end date for transitional relief.

The above currently only applies to Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

***Options may differ based on your insurance carrier***