DOL Releases Model COBRA Notices for Stimulus Bill 65% Assistance Payment Provisions

Today the Department of Labor (DOL) issued its long-awaited (and Congressionally mandated) model COBRA notices addressing the 65% assistance payment provisions enacted as part of the Stimulus Bill signed into law February 17.

The four model notices can be found, along with new questions and answers related to the COBRA assistance payment provisions and previously released DOL material, at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html.

The appropriate model notice must be sent, along with the relevant additional COBRA material, to each current, prior, or prospective COBRA qualified beneficiary by April 18, 2009.

The model notices are designed for the four major groups of individuals impacted by the assistance payment provisions. Surprisingly, some of the models contain entire COBRA enrollment packages that may or may not mesh well with current COBRA enrollment material.

For the full story, please view the PDF.