Medical Coverage Under The Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Eligibility Process and Frequently Asked Questions

In order to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Disney offers basic health care coverage to eligible “non-full-time” (regular part time and temp/recurring) employees and Cast Members working in U.S. based locations.

Eligibility (for all locations other than Hawaii) is defined as working for an average of at least 30 hours per week using a 12-month look-back measurement period (or at least 1,560 hours paid for a full 52 weeks).

Non-full-time employees in Hawaii meet the eligibility requirement under the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act if they are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week for four consecutive weeks.

Potentially eligible employees and Cast Members include any non-full-time employee (outside Hawaii) whose hours are regularly scheduled less than the standard 30 hours per week.

Non-full-time employees and Cast Members who are covered by a multi-employer union plan/trust fund are excluded since the Company contributes to the employer plan on behalf of the employee (see related FAQ).

All employees and Cast Members who meet the eligibility requirements will receive a benefit enrollment kit mailed to their registered address in SAP at the time of mailing. The kit includes instructions to enroll or decline coverage, and to enroll any eligible dependents. Employees outside Hawaii are eligible to enroll in the Consumer Choice medical plan option, which comes with a Health Savings Account (HSA). There is no employer contribution to the HSA. If the employee does not make an active election to enroll or decline coverage by choosing “No Coverage Medical” by the enrollment deadline date shown on the Personal Fact Sheet included in the enrollment kit, they will be enrolled in individual coverage and weekly payroll contributions will commence with the first paycheck after their effective date of coverage.

If the employee lives in Hawaii, they will be eligible for HMSA Health Plan Hawaii, with a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). They will be enrolled in individual coverage unless they decline coverage and submit an HC-5 form by their enrollment deadline. There is no cost for coverage for the employee or any dependents they wish to cover.

Effective July 1, 2024, Student Program (College Program or Intern Program) participants will no longer be automatically eligible for ACA coverage upon extension of their program. Student Program participants will be evaluated on their first-year anniversary and, if applicable, annually thereafter.

Employees with questions concerning their eligibility for health care coverage should call the Disney Benefits Center at 1-800-354-3970.

ELIGIBILITY PROCESS

Measurement Period

  • How initial eligibility is determined (employees outside Hawaii)
    If a newly hired employee or Cast Member has a full year of service without a break of greater than 91 days and works at least 1,560 hours during the 12-month period ending on their anniversary date, (“initial measurement period”), he or she will be sent an enrollment packet by the Disney Benefits Center. The employee will then have a 30-day period in which to enroll or decline coverage. They will be assigned coverage if they make no election.

  • If the 1,560 hours requirement is not met during the first year
    After the first year, there will be an ongoing 12-month measurement period from October 6 of the prior year to October 5 of the current year. If they meet the hours requirement during one of these “ongoing measurement periods,” their coverage would be effective the following January.

    NOTE: The hours monitoring report that Cast Members or employees can access should not be used to track ACA hours worked.

Stability Period

  • When coverage takes effect (following initial measurement)
    Coverage will begin effective the last day of the month following the month of the employee’s first year anniversary as long as the employee has met the 1,560-hour requirement (or 20 hour/4-week requirement in Hawaii).

    For example, if an employee was hired on February 15, 2024, and worked at least 1,560 hours as of February 15, 2025, coverage would begin effective March 31, 2025. This begins a 12-month “Stability Period” during which the employee is guaranteed to remain eligible for medical coverage whether or not they have a reduction in hours, end a project, or go on a leave of absence, as long as they remain employed with the Company.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on an accordion below to jump directly to a topic.

Hours Measurement and ACA Eligibility

New Hire Evaluation and Eligibility – outside Hawaii (See related FAQ for details for Hawaii employees and Cast Members)

Rehired Cast Members

Changes in Status

Salaried Exempt Regular Part Time

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Hawaii Employees and Cast Members

Other (International sites; Non-Employees; Multi-Employer Union Plans/Trust Fund)

Health Care Notification and Coverage Details