Important Updates
(IRS) posted to the Federal Register, "Extension of Certain Timeframes for Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, and Beneficiaries Affected by the COVID–19 Outbreak." 1 HMSA will adhere to the appropriate timeframe extensions related to COBRA, for those specific situations, until no longer applicable. The parameters of the COBRA law currently remain unchanged. For more information, visit the Help Center2.
June 2023:
Previously, the Biden Administration announced a definitive end to both the COVID-19 public health emergency (May 11, 2023) and the national health emergency (April 10, 2023). The U.S. Department of Labor, as allowed by the Joint Rule, subsequently exercised its discretion to determine July 10, 2023, as the end date of the Outbreak Period (60 days after the end of the public health emergency date, May 11, 2023).
- Individuals and plans with timeframes that are subject to the relief under the Notices will have the applicable periods under the Notices disregarded until the earlier of (a) one year from the date they were first eligible for relief, or (b) July 10, 2023 [the end of the Outbreak Period]. In no case will a disregarded period exceed one year.
- After July 10, 2023, the timeframes for individuals and plans with periods that were previously disregarded under the Notices will resume.
Important information about your plan benefits, limitations, and exclusions is included in your Guide to Benefits for medical and dental plans. Similar information for rider plans such as vision, drug, or chiropractic is included in the rider plan’s certificates3. The Guide to Benefits, along with any rider certificates and amendments, is a written description of your health care coverage.
Every HMSA medical plan has a Guide to Benefits. Your Guide to Benefits is your reference guide and legal document that explains your plan coverage. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the contents of this document. Topics in your Guide to Benefits include, but aren’t limited to:
- Out-of-state benefits4.
- Your annual copayment maximum5 and deductible6.
- A list of your benefits and copayment amounts.
- Services that aren’t covered by your plan.
- How to file claims when visiting a nonparticipating provider7.
- Services that require precertification8.
- How to appeal an HMSA decision9.
- Third-party liability rules.
- How your benefits are coordinated10.
- Enrolling your children11 on your plan.
- Information on COBRA12.
You may have access to view and print your Guide to Benefits online through your HMSA My Account13. (If your plan’s Guide to Benefits isn’t available online, please contact your employment office or HMSA Customer Relations14 to request a copy.)
To find your Guide to Benefits through My Account:
- Register and/or log on to My Account15.
- Hover over Benefits and click Medical Benefits.
- Click the download icons in the GTB and SOC listing.
The information in your Guide to Benefits supersedes any of the information contained on this site.