CalCPA ProtectPlus

Rights of Survivorship may apply to eligible family members following the death of a plan participant. These are rights to continued coverage under the deceased participant’s plan after the legally required rights provided under COBRA or CalCOBRA have expired. Family members who are eligible, and the conditions for continuation coverage, are set forth under the plan document. Rights of Survivorship do not apply to Anthem Blue Cross HMO Participants.

A new COBRA administrator is now in place for CalCPA-member firms with employees enrolled in the Group Insurance Trust’s medical, dental and vision plans. As subscribers are probably aware, at the beginning of 2010, Banyan Administrators, LLC replaced Seabury & Smith as administrator of the Trust’s group insurance plans. Seabury previously had provided COBRA and CalCOBRA administration to CalCPA plan members. However, with the administrative transition, the Trust found it necessary to contract with a secondary administrator for these services. After a lengthy search, the Trust engaged Infinisource, a leader in COBRA and CalCOBRA administration, to provide member firms with these specialized services.

Founded in 1986 to help employers and insurance professionals navigate complex benefit-related federal regulations, Infinisource has streamlined the complex and time-consuming procedures that all firms must adhere to. Benefit managers and individual members will be pleased to find that the new online tracking capacities now available through Infinisource will make it easier both to track payments and comply with regulations.

Administrative Procedures

Firms with an average of 20 or more employees in the previous calendar year, and, thus subject to COBRA, must contract directly with Infinisource. These firms may, however, choose to contract directly with another COBRA administrator or to self-administer these benefits. The Trust will, however, absorb the costs of administration for firms selecting Infinisource as their provider. The Trust contracts directly with Infinisource on behalf of its CalCOBRA firms (i.e., those with 2–19 employees). Whether employees qualify for COBRA or CalCOBRA, firm administrators should communicate all qualifying event information to Banyan Administrators. (continue reading…)

Whether or not you are eligible for COBRA or CalCOBRA depends on several factors. Please contact Infinisource at 800-594-6957 (Participant) or 866-320-3040 (Employers) for information specific to your coverage.

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Our group plans require that you work a minimum of 20 hours per week in order to maintain your coverage. If you plan to retire before your 65th birthday (Medicare eligible age) you will not be eligible for coverage. You may be eligible for COBRA and/or CalCOBRA coverage depending on the size of your firm. Please contact Banyan Administrators, LLC at 877-480-7923 to discuss your options.

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COBRA

means the medical plan related provisions of the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as such provisions have been subsequently amended.

COBRA Administrator

means a COBRA participating employer or third party (not the Trustees or the plan administrator) appointed by the COBRA participating employer to act as the COBRA Administrator.