The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) provides for COBRA premium assistance, subsidizing the full amount of the health insurance premiums paid to small and large employer health plans by “Assistance Eligible Individuals." The premium assistance applies to periods of health coverage on or after April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. (Read EANJ’s summary here).
Notice must be provided to qualified beneficiaries regarding the premium assistance and other information about their rights under ARP by no later than May 31, 2021. The US Department of Labor has made available the following important compliance resources:
- COBRA Premium Subsidy dedicated page, available at https://www.dol.gov/COBRA-subsidy
- FAQs, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/r…
- Model Notices:
- General Notice and Election Notice, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/c…
- Notice in Connection with Extended Election Period, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/c…
- Alternative Notice, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/c…
- Notice of Expiration of Premium Assistance, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/c…
Summary of the COBRA Premium Assistance Provisions, available at https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/c…