United States Department of Labor Case Study
Labrika Mosely
Week 8
May 26, 2017
Informed & Aware
The United States Department of Labor website has a sleek look that encompasses the red, white, and blue color scheme. In the corner of the opening page, the emblem is in the left corner. Beside the emblem are the guiding tabs that allows the viewer to navigate the Topics within the website. Upon first sight, the heading of this page reads Health Plans & Benefits: Continuation of Health Coverage – COBRA. The viewer will find an explanation of what COBRA is. The COBRA acronym is broken down to read The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (USDOL, 2018).
COBRA – gives workers and families the right to choose to continue their group health benefits once provided by their group health plan (USDOL, 2018). This is after they have lost their service (USDOL, 2018). While the service is extended, it is only for certain periods of time and must fall under instances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events (USDOL, 2018). Individuals are typically required to pay for the whole premium for coverage (USDOL, 2018). This often falls under 102 percent of the cost of the plan (USDOL, 2018).
This website can be utilized to monitor benefits by giving necessary info that may not be available elsewhere. There are subtopics listed cover Child care Assistance, mental health benefits, Newborns’ & Mothers’ Protections (Newborns’ Act), Womens’ Health & Cancer Rights Protections, and Compliance Assistance (USDOL, 2018). It even offers information that will better inform those in need or equipped with health benefits (USDOL, 2018). This is very beneficial because many people do not understand their rights, as well as the terms of their benefits (USDOL, 2018). The site also offers information that is vital to know, especially in an instance where they are unsure how to move forward (USDOL, 2018). Moments like these would include unexpected deaths or bereavement (USDOL, 2018).
Federal Compliance
Every state has federal laws in place that employee benefits must comply with (USDOL, 2018). Those that are serious about their health and where their money goes, as well as how they will be protected; will ensure that all of these needs are met within the health benefit category (USDOL, 2018). The United States Department of Labor Website and the subtopics that are available to answer any question that may come in mind ensures that employees are also equipped with the information needed to compare notes (USDOL, 2018).
Employees could verify that their employee benefits comply with all federal laws by reading through the Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA) (USDOL, 2018). There is also the consumer information on health plans that offers insight that comes directly from the Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) (USDOL, 2018). These pages give a thorough and easily understandable breakdown of the information needed and the resources needed for better assistance (USDOL, 2018). There is so much information and it is all broken down and categorized into various brackets (USDOL, 2018). It can be a bit overwhelming.
Upon clicking Affordable Care Act tab, there are two options that offer filter information for both employers, who need to be aware of what is required, and workers and families, who need to be informed and aware of their rights (USDOL, 2018). The Affordable Care Act is put into place in an effort to ensure that employment-based group health plans for families offer necessary protections that may be way over your ordinary person’s head (USDOL, 2018). It protects families that have burgeoning youth, like college-aged students who may need prolonged coverage as dependent (USDOL, 2018).
Resources that are accessible on the Affordable Care Act offer insight into COBRA or Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) (USDOL, 2018). For the majority of employees and their families who’d lose group health coverage as a result of a serious life event, there is a huge need for continued coverage (USDOL, 2018). As a result of COBRA, there is an option to continue their coverage under the employer’s group health plan (USDOL, 2018). As mentioned before this is at their own expense but this at least ensures that they are aware that they can extend their coverage for limited periods of time (USDOL, 2018).
Ensuring Rights are Protected
Ensuring that their rights are protected is very important. That’s why there are plenty of resources accessible through the site that will ensure that employees and their families can compare notes (USDOL, 2018). The tabs that cover COBRA and HIPAA offer thorough breakdowns of benefits are mandatory by right (USDOL, 2018). A walk through its contents would likely offer the vital information that these people are looking for (USDOL, 2018).
For example, the COBRA tab has a tab that is entitled Regulations. Below it there are options that include Final regulations on the COBRA notice provisions and the Implementation FAQS that re-establish how and when certain aspects of these legislations are to be implemented (USDOL, 2018). For example, the page entitled, “FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation” discusses the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the Affordable Care Act and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) (USDOL, 2018). This is useful because it groups the common concerns in one central area (USDOL, 2018). There notices of coverage option changes and other important information (USDOL, 2018).
Acknowledgment of the Affordable Care Act forebodes employers from retaliating against employees who report violations of the Act's health insurance reforms, found in Title I of the Affordable Care Act it offers an overview of who is protected by this act which is vital information for a worker to know for them and their families (USDOL, 2018). This tab area of the site is very beneficial and offers substantial options to become better informed such as further glimpses into COBRA, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, as well as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (USDOL, 2018). Being informed of the terms of these acts ensure that workers and their families are completely aware and informed (USDOL, 2018).
Navigating the Site
From the start of the website’s URL, following these steps will guide you two the various tabs described above:
1. Health Plans & Benefits: Continuation of Health Coverage – COBRA
1.1. COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under the American recovery And Reinvestment Act of 2009
1.1.1. For Workers & Families
1.1.1.1. Regulations
1.1.1.2. Related Information
1.1.1.3. Related Websites
1.2. Frequently Asked Question: COBRA Continuation Health Coverage
1.2.1. What is COBRA continuation health coverage?
1.2.2. Who is entitled to continuation coverage under COBRA?
1.2.3. Under COBRA, what benefits must be covered?
1.3. Health Benefits Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
1.3.1. Benefits under Continuation Coverage
1.3.2. Coordination with Other Federal Benefit Laws
1.3.3. Role of the Federal Government
1.4. Compliance Assistance
1.4.1. Disaster Relief
1.4.2. Fiduciary Responsibilities
1.4.3. Health Plans
1.5. Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA) Frequently Asked Questions
1.5.1. What is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
1.5.2. Examples of events that can trigger a loss?
1.5.3. HIPAA’s Protections from Discrimination?
References
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2016, September). AN EMPLOYEE’S GUIDE TO HEALTH BENEFITS UNDER COBRA. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/publications/an-employees-guide-to-health-benefits-under-cobra.pdf
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2018, April 23). Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Portability of Health Coverage and Nondiscrimination Requirements FAQs. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/hipaa-consumer
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2018). Affordable Care Act – Information for
Workers and Families. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/aca-part-32.pdf
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2018, April 23). Fact Sheet: The Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/fact-sheets/hipaa
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. (2018, April 23). Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Portability of Health Coverage and Nondiscrimination Requirements FAQs. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/hipaa-consumer