American Rescue Plan Subsidized COBRA Benefits To Laid Off Employees Thru Sept. 30

The COVID relief legislation (the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) that was signed into law in March included language providing COBRA premium health insurance coverage for laid off employees and their beneficiaries.

COBRA provides certain employees and their beneficiaries with the right to retain coverage under an employer’s group health plan for a set period following certain triggering events including when the employee is laid off.

Typically, the cost of the COBRA premium is borne exclusively by the individual. However, the new law provides subsidies to cover 100 percent of the premiums for eligible individuals who qualify for COBRA coverage for the period from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.

During this period, the qualifying individual does not have to remit COBRA premiums and instead the premium will be reimbursed directly to the employer, plan administrator or insurance company (depending on the nature of the plan) in the form of a tax credit.

Recently the U.S. Department of Labor issued two new sets of FAQs to help employees and employers understand the new COBRA premium subsidies and COBRA in general. The

DOL also issued new model notices that employers and plan administrators may use to satisfy their obligation to alert COBRA qualifying individuals of the COBRA premium subsidies.

In the event of a termination/layoff or other action (such as a reduction in hours) that would end an employee’s regular coverage under the group health plan and cause them to be eligible for COBRA – employers should make sure that they and their agents consult the new materials from the DOL and comply with the new requirements related to the premium subsidies.

DOL COBRA information can be found by Clicking Here.

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