The ACA imposes a maximum 90-day waiting period before a new employee can become eligible for group health coverage. Florida employers cannot make new hires wait more than 90 calendar days from their start date to access the group plan. Within that ceiling, employers have flexibility — a 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day waiting period, or a first-of-the-month structure — to align benefits administration with payroll and enrollment processes.
Under ACA Section 2708, group health plans cannot impose a waiting period longer than 90 calendar days. The waiting period starts on the date the employee is first otherwise eligible — typically the date of hire for full-time employees. The rule applies to fully insured and self-insured plans. It does not require employers to offer coverage — only that if coverage is offered, eligible employees cannot be made to wait more than 90 days.
Shopping group health for your team
| Structure | How It Works | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (no waiting period) | Coverage effective first day of employment | Competitive hiring markets |
| 30-day waiting period | Coverage effective 31 days after hire date | Professional services firms |
| 60-day waiting period | Coverage effective 61 days after hire date | Retail, service industries |
| 90-day waiting period | Maximum allowed under ACA | High-turnover industries |
| First of month following 30 days | Coverage on next 1st after completing 30 days | Most common for payroll alignment |
| First of month following 60 days | Coverage on next 1st after completing 60 days | Balance between retention and cost |
Many group plans use a "first of the month following" structure because it aligns coverage start dates with billing cycles. An employee hired on March 15 under a "first of month following 30 days" structure would have coverage effective May 1 — a gap of 47 days. Under a straight 30-day calendar structure, coverage would begin April 14. Employers should communicate the effective date clearly during onboarding so new employees know when to expect coverage and can arrange bridge coverage through COBRA or the ACA Marketplace if needed.
A licensed broker can help you structure waiting periods, effective dates, and eligibility rules for your group plan.
Get Group Plan Quotes