COBRA Archives

Is Your COBRA Administration Ready for What’s Coming? Why TPAs Should Act Now

COBRA Administration Solution - Office Meeting

The employee benefits landscape is entering a period of significant uncertainty, which could lead to increased demand for COBRA services among TPAs and employers. If you’ve been considering upgrading your COBRA administration solution or adding COBRA services to your portfolio, now is the time to act, given the current market conditions. The Shifting Economics of Coverage Loss For years, a predictable pattern has emerged when employees lose their jobs, especially during mass layoffs. Many briefly

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Beyond the AI Hype: Intelligent Automation for Benefits Administration

Beyond the AI Hype: Intelligent Automation from DataPath

Benefits administration has always been a delicate balancing act. Between managing enrollment deadlines, processing contributions, ensuring COBRA compliance, and handling claims reimbursements, TPAs and benefit administrators operate in a highly complex environment that demands both precision and speed. Manual processes consume valuable time and invite costly errors, while the stakes for accuracy in our compliance-intensive industry continue to escalate. Enter the latest wave of AI solutions promising to revolutionize everything. But before you get swept

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Why TPAs and PEOs Are Choosing DataPath

Third-party administrators (TPAs) and professional employer organizations (PEOs) are under increasing pressure to provide greater value to their employer groups by assisting companies in attracting and retaining top talent, addressing the needs of a multi-generational workforce, and connecting healthcare with financial wellness. To meet this demand, TPAs and PEOs must find ways to improve their business operations with seamless, efficient benefits administration while controlling costs and maintaining compliance. The challenge isn’t just managing the complexity

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Top Compliance Pitfalls for TPAs — And How to Avoid Them

As a third-party benefits administrator, you serve as the compliance backbone for client plans. Navigating ever-changing regulations, managing COBRA efficiently, safeguarding sensitive information, and administering benefit funds requires vigilance and expertise. A single oversight can result in substantial penalties and damage to your reputation. Here are some of the most common compliance challenges facing TPAs today, with actionable strategies to protect your business and better serve your clients. Changing Regulatory Requirements Managing employer benefit plans

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COBRA Administration and Compliance in 2025

COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. It’s a key health insurance option for American workers and their families. It allows people to keep their employer-sponsored health coverage in certain situations. They can keep it if they lose their job, have reduced hours, if the employee dies, or if their marital status changes. This can provide comfort during difficult times. Third-party administrators must keep up with federal and state COBRA rules. This ensures

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COBRA Benefits: Layoff vs. Furlough

Nearly half (45%) of companies anticipate layoffs in 2025, while some economic analysts also predict an increase in furloughs. Many people do not understand the key differences between layoffs and furloughs. There is also a significant difference between the two regarding eligibility for COBRA continuation coverage. Furlough vs. Layoff: What’s the Difference? Both furloughs and layoffs involve a reduction in work, but they differ significantly regarding employment status and benefits eligibility. If unsure whether your

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Understanding COBRA Eligibility: Who Qualifies and When?

Understanding the intricacies of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) can be challenging for employers and employees alike. It may be especially daunting when trying to understand who qualifies for COBRA coverage and when they qualify. What is COBRA? COBRA is a federal law enacted in 1985 that requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer continuation coverage. This applies only to employees and their dependents whose coverage would end due to qualifying

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INFOGRAPHIC: Benefits Administration Software Top Features

The following infographic outlines the must-have features of benefits administration software for third party benefits administrators. If your solution doesn’t have all of these, it may be time to upgrade. To streamline your workflow and increase the bottom line, look for these features and capabilities.

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INFOGRAPHIC: Negative Impacts of a Multi-Platform Approach

Using a multi-platform approach to CDH and COBRA benefits administration can create a host of problems for third party benefits administrators. The following infographic highlights the negative impacts of a multi-platform approach and examines the benefits of a single solution.

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Choosing a COBRA Administrator

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or COBRA, ensures that employees can continue health insurance coverage in the case of a job loss or significant adjustment in hours. COBRA regulations are complex, and compliance errors can be very costly. As a result, employers often outsource their COBRA administration to a qualified third-party administrator (TPA). Pitfalls of In-House COBRA Administration Employers who decide to self-administer may find they did not fully comprehend the extent

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