Employee Look Back

Full-time or part-time classification in 2013 will drive the play-or-pay requirements for 2014.  Employers who plan to use a 12-month look-back period going forward may use a transition rule that allows a six-month look-back period during 2013 to determine which employees will be considered full-time for all of 2014. Employers with a plan year beginning on January 1, 2014, should begin counting employee hours in April of this year if they would like the maximum permitted time to make these full-time employee determinations. Employee hours can be counted during the six-month period between April and September 2013, and the employer can use a 90-day administrative period between October and December to notify employees, handle enrollment, and have all eligible full-time employees enrolled and receiving coverage on January 1, 2014. Employers with a plan year beginning later in 2014 will have a little more time to start counting hours, but all employers should begin planning now so as to be able to use all the time allowed if needed.

Identifying whether employees qualify as full-time for purposes of the ACA can be complicated for employers with employees who work variable hours or seasonally, or for those with frequent turnover. The length of the look-back period chosen impacts the length of time the employer must offer such employees health coverage before their full-time status can be re-evaluated. Employers should consult with their legal and benefits advisors if they need assistance in making these determinations.