Effective January 1, 2009, the previously voluntary data exchange program will become mandatory and all employers, insurers and plan administrators will be required to share eligibility data with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Submission of Social Security numbers for both primary subscribers and their dependents is required in order to comply with the federal mandate beginning with January 1, 2009, case effective dates. Carriers have, or will contact your directly about how they will collect the data.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AS AN EMPLOYER?
The program allows insurers and CMS to send and receive group health plan (GHP) enrollment and participation information electronically. This will eliminate the "annoying" requirement to complete IRS/SSA/CMS data match questionnaires.

STEPS TO TAKE NOW
Carriers will be asking you to provide the following specific data; you can proactively start gathering the data:

• Plan sponsor’s Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Total number of full-time and part-time employees of the plan sponsor (including both those who are enrolled in the group health plan and those who are not enrolled)
• Social Security Number (SSN) for employees and dependents enrolling in new plans as of January 1, 2009, and for all plan members by January 1, 2010

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Start collecting the required data; your carrier will be contacting you directly on how they want the information. If you have any further questions, please call Corporate Synergies at 1.866.CSG.1719 or click here to contact us today.