New DOL Posts for COBRA

he Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has posted new information on the COBRA page (www.dol.gov/COBRA), adding an updated fact sheet, FAQS for employees, and posters and flyers updated for the provisions extending the ARRA premium reduction in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010. The updated fact sheet is available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsCOBRApremiumreduction.html The [...]

COBRA Subsidy Extended 6 More Months

With less than two weeks left in the year, the U.S. Senate on Saturday passed legislation that extends until the end of February eligibility deadlines for some key unemployment benefits. That’s especially important in Michigan, which continues to have the nation’s highest unemployment rate – 14.7% in November. Attached to the $636-billion defense spending bill [...]

House Passes COBRA Subsidy Extension; Next, Senate Needs to Act

WASHINGTON-The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation Wednesday that would extend the federal subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums for employees who are involuntarily terminated. Embedded in H.R. 3326, a measure appropriating funds for the Department of Defense, the nine-month, 65% premium subsidy would be extended by six months to a total of 15 [...]

Senate Finance Committee Health Care Reform Bil

Now, who is going to pay the $6 billion? I can’t believe those insurers are going to take it off their bottom line, so how does this reduce the cost of insurance and be claimed as reform?

Aetna’s Letter to Insurance Brokers re: Pennsylvania Mini-COBRA

The following letter was provided insurance agents/brokers from Aetna regarding PA Mini-COBRA New Pennsylvania requirements for state continuation New Pennsylvania legislation (HB 1089) became effective on July 10, 2009.  We’ll be sending letters to plan sponsors explaining the law and our joint requirements established by the state. The law The law effects employees (and their [...]

New York COBRA FAQs

On July 29, 2009, Governor David A. Paterson signed into law Chapter 236 of the Laws of 2009, which extends state continuation coverage to 36 months, regardless of the qualifying event. This extension will assist employees and their dependents who are eligible for federal COBRA coverage in fully insured products or New York State continuation coverage.

Pennsylvania General Assembly Passes Mini-COBRA Law Affecting Small Employers

On June 3, 2009, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed a “mini-COBRA” bill for employees of small employers in Pennsylvania. The bill will provide for continued health insurance in a manner comparable to the federal COBRA law. The bill has been sent to Governor Rendell for his signature. The new law has two important provisions. First, [...]

IMPROVED PENNSYLVANIA MINI-COBRA LEGISLATION PASSES SENATE Stack HARRISBURG, April 1

The Pennsylvania Senate [April 1, 2009] unanimously approved legislation that includes state Sen. Mike Stack’s amendment to give employees of small businesses who were laid off access to federal COBRA subsidies.

Aetna Announces it will Discontinue its COBRA Home Billing Services

The Aetna announced yesterday it would no longer provide COBRA administration services as described below… COBRA Control Services is available with plenty of capacity to support employers who need to replace Aetna’s COBRA administration services, and COBRA Control Services can have an employer group up and running in a day or so with complete administration [...]

Update to FAQs

Q. Would a group of less than 20 FTE employees in 2008 in Pennsylvania (a state without a mini-cobra requirement) who offers separated employees a continuation coverage, and uses a qualifying event letter that states “COBRA” throughout, be subject to ARRA?   A. No.  Just saying you are subject to COBRA does not make you subject [...]