March 24, 2020

Some States Require Insurance Protections Because of COVID-19

Highlights To help businesses and individuals maintain access to insurance, states have begun requiring insurers to provide certain protections with respect to premiums and coverage, such as: Grace periods for premium payments; Expanded health insurance eligibility; and Special enrollment for individual health insurance. As the COVID-19 situation continues, state insurance regulators are taking steps to protect insurance policyholders from the impact of the pandemic. States have begun requiring insurance carriers to provide certain protections with respect to premiums and coverage, to help business and individuals maintain their access to insurance. State requirements will vary and may change quickly. The types of insurance affected will depend on each state’s guidelines. Any future federal legislative action may also affect state requirements. State Insurance Protections Changes to premium and coverage requirements will differ from state to state and may include the following types of provisions: Grace periods for premium payments. Insureds may be able to defer premium payments, interest free. The applicable grace period could be 60 days or longer. Expanded health insurance eligibility. State guidelines may require insurance companies to provide coverage to employees under group health plans, even if the employees would normally lose eligibility for coverage because of a reduction in hours of employment.  Special enrollment for individual health insurance. States may require that employees who do lose coverage be given the opportunity for special enrollment in individual coverage, whether through an Exchange or not. Some insurance carriers are independently implementing changes to their requirements related to the COVID-19 situation to provide flexibility for policyholders. These changes may go beyond what state guidelines require. State-mandated protections with respect to premiums and coverage in light of the coronavirus outbreak will vary and may change quickly.

Some States Require Insurance Protections Because of COVID-19 Read More »

Reemployment Assistance COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

If your employment has been negatively impacted as a result of the mitigation efforts in Florida to stop the spread of COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive Reemployment Assistance. Individuals who may be eligible for Reemployment Assistance may include: Those who are quarantined by a medical professional or a government agency, Those who are laid off or sent home without pay for an extended period by their employer due to COVID-19 concerns, or Those who are caring for an immediate family member who is diagnosed with COVID-19. What is Reemployment Assistance? Reemployment Assistance provides temporary wage replacement (unemployment insurance) benefits to eligible individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. Am I eligible for Reemployment Assistance? If you have a history of wages in the state of Florida, you are actively able and available to seek and accept new employment, and you are currently unemployed or work reduced hours through no fault of your own, you may be eligible to receive Reemployment Assistance benefits. How do I file a Reemployment Assistance claim? Reemployment Assistance claims are handled by the CONNECT system. You can file your claim by accessing CONNECT through www.floridajobs.org in the Reemployment Assistance Service Center in the right hand corner of the page. People who need assistance filing a claim online because of legal reasons, computer illiteracy, language barriers, or disabilities may call 1-800-681-8102. What will I need to complete a application? You will need the following information to complete an application: Social Security Number Driver’s License or State ID Your last 18 months of employment (including name, separation reason, earnings, and dates of work) Work authorization (if not a US citizen) DD-214 member 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 (if a military employee) SF 8 or SF 50 (if a federal employee) What happens after I file a claim? Your claim has two levels of review after you complete an application: Your history of wages are reviewed to determine if you have earned enough to qualify for benefits Any issues (such as job separation) found during your application are reviewed to determine eligibility You must login to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request benefit payment. Your first date to return to CONNECT is provided at the end of your application. You must request benefits even while your claim is being reviewed. During your request, you will need to report your job searches, work and any earnings. How do I receive payments after filing a claim and requesting benefits? If you are determined eligible after all reviews are complete, payments will be distributed by direct deposit or through the Way2Go debit card based on your initial application. Debit cards are mailed after the first payment is processed and may take 7-10 business days to receive by mail. Payments take 1-2 business to arrive after being processed.

Reemployment Assistance COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Read More »

Tired of Payroll & HR Frustrations?

Just write down some details and our customer success heroes will get back to you in a jiffy!

Skip to content