Quality health plans & benefits Healthier living Financial well‐being Intelligent solutions Virginia Defines Small Group as 50 or Fewer Employees On October 7th, 2015 the President signed into law House Resolution (H.R.) 1624. This changes the federal ACA definition of Small Group. Effective January 1, 2016, individual states were allowed to define a small employer as 100 or fewer employees but, if states took no action, a small employer would be defined as 50 or fewer employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia previously passed a law raising the small employer limit to 100. However, Virginia passed emergency legislation returning the definition of small employer to 50 or fewer employees. Here's what this legislation means for you and your customers: 
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For new business effective dates of January 1, 2016 through February 15, 2016, Aetna will allow 51‐100 groups who purchased them to keep their small group ACA plans and rates. Groups must be submitted within Aetna’s defined case submission deadlines. For new business effective dates of March 1, 2016 and forward, Aetna will re‐rate 51‐100 groups using the same underwriting methodology and quoting process Aetna used for groups of that size with 2015 policy effective dates. For renewal business effective dates of January 1, 2016 through March 15, 2016, Aetna will allow 51‐100 groups to keep the ACA plans and rates that have been presented on their renewals. For April 1, 2016 renewal business and forward, Aetna will rate 51‐100 groups using the same underwriting methodology that was used for groups of that size with 2015 policy anniversary dates. Questions? Please contact IMC: 301‐468‐8888 ©2016 Aetna Inc.