The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is set to publish a notice (pdf) in the Federal Register announcing the availability of model COBRA notices that group health plans and other entities are required to provide to individuals eligible for the premium reductions and additional health care coverage election periods provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and extended for the third time by the Continuing Extension Act (CEA) of 2010. The CEA extends through May 31, 2010, the 65 % premium COBRA subsidy for eligible individuals who are involuntarily terminated from employment. In addition, the CEA provides retroactive eligibility for individuals who lost their jobs after the prior COBRA subsidy expired on March 31, 2010.

The EBSA has created a webpage that contains links to an updated Model Updated General Notice, Model Notice of New Election Period, Model Supplemental Information Notice, Model Notice of Extended Election Period, and a Model Updated Alternative Notice, in addition to instructions on which notice to provide and to whom.

Longer COBRA extensions are included in the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213), which the Senate passed in March. House and Senate negotiators are working to resolve differences so that both Chambers can approve final legislation before Memorial Day.

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