Your “Dependents” Could be Costing You

The Employer-Shared Responsibility (“Play or Pay”) final regulations released February 2014 provide a little relief for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) and their obligations surrounding dependent coverage. The final regulations provide, in part, that in order to avoid a potential penalty, ALEs must offer coverage to the full-time employees’ dependents. This article will address the Final Regulations’ definition of dependent, possible implications, and allowable transitional relief.