If your ministry has a waiting period, the ACA mandates it cannot exceed 90 calendar days. That means an employee will wait no more than 90 calendar days for coverage to begin.

Your ministry can set eligibility criteria (before the waiting period begins), but the criteria must not avoid the 90-day limitation. Job classification, hours of service, training and licenses are examples of acceptable eligibility criteria.

Employers can set the length of waiting periods at or up to 90 days; however, they are not required to set a waiting period at all.

For additional Health Care Reform information please visit GuideStone.org/HealthReform.