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DataPath COBRA: Status Report
Comparison Worksheet for COBRA Administration Systems
Additional Information on DataPath COBRA
DataPath COBRA, Version Two, has been released, and an update to Version Two will be out shortly. After that update, we will have, in addition to various new features, two key elements in our COBRA system, web access through myRSC.com and the Tier Wizard.
Web Portal. With myRSC.com (an optional Line of Service) available now for COBRA administration, web access can be provided for both employers and employees. myRSC.com will provide:
Over 60% of the homes now have computers, and many employers are insisting on web access. The more the employees (or ex-employees) can go to the web for the answer, the less the human resource personnel have to be on the phone answering questions. Web access is not just a "nicety" to give the employees, it saves the employer money!
Tier Wizard. Some states now require COBRA-like continuation coverage for virtually all employees. Small companies can only provide individually rated medical coverage, which complicates continuation coverage. To prevent excessive data entry, we created the Tier Wizard which walks you through setting up age- and sex-related tiers for employees electing continuation coverage.
Among the other new features in Version Two are:
Group Coverage Administration. Group Coverage Administration allows you to perform actions for multiple employees at one time. You can easily add, remove, or delete coverages; perform status and rate changes; and make any necessary billing adjustments. This feature was designed for TPAs who administer COBRA for large companies.
Invoicing. Invoicing for your fees has become simple. When you set up a new employer, you will put "definitions" of the fees to be charged, the calculation or count option, minimum fees, and other pertinent information. When you are ready to invoice the employer (covering a day, week, month, or year), the system will create an invoice based on these definitions.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We want to thank a group of our users who gave their time to tell us what they believe an ideal COBRA admin system should include. Their ideas and administration tips came from actual experience in administering COBRA. Without them, DataPath COBRA would not be the dynamic, robust, and comprehensive administration system that it is today.
Gay Robinson (FlexComp Administration Services, Mobile, Alabama) was a member of this group. Here's some of the things she had to say in a recent email:.
"The system is everything I've hoped for, and then some. . . The system guides the user through the necessary COBRA activities in a logical order which is compliant with the regulatory requirements. It uses a "things to do" screen, which is sensitive to the time limitations for performing certain activities. Virtually all COBRA activities will be prompted by and can be performed through this screen. It will provide warnings when approaching a time limitation.
"The system tracks and documents every activity, including date stamping and user identification. The historical log for each person in the system (including dependent info) is significant, so you can see who, what, when, how from the time a person was entered into the system. This is important, because there is no statute of limitation on COBRA failures. I haven't seen a system with the capability of tracking such detail, especially when it comes to dependents.
"The system can handle the most complex situation you can imagine. I've tested it with the most bizarre cases we've ever experienced in our practice, and some I've dreamed up. It has performed beautifully in situations where our previous systems have completely failed. . . . The architects of the program have done their homework.
". . . One of my past frustrations has been managing the sheer volume of paper that COBRA generates. DOL suggests that all records be maintained for 8 years. I've often felt that we were approaching the point of operating from a small corner of a larger warehouse. Currently, we are storing archived records in offsite, climate controlled storage facilities. Retrieval is a major headache. DPICOBRA has addressed this by creating a "zip" file of every system-generated letter, and attaching the file to the individual's record.
". . . if you can't tell, I'm pretty fired up about DPICOBRA. I've only scratched the surface in this note, and could go on and on about it."
You can email Gay or call her at 1.251.666.1999 with your questions. She will be glad to hear from you.