May 31, 2021 Notice Deadline Approaching for New COBRA Subsidy Relief

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”) includes a 100% COBRA temporary subsidy for certain eligible individuals (“Assistance Eligible Individuals”) who lost health care coverage due to an involuntary termination of employment or a reduction in hours.  As we previously discussed in our blog titled “New COBRA Subsidy Available April 1, 2021,” the ARP …

Benefits Briefs in the Time of COVID-19, Part 8: COBRA Complications

The DOL and IRS recently issued final regulations (the “Final Rule“) that extend notice and premium payment periods for participants and plans under COBRA.  Specifically, a group health plan must disregard the period from March 1, 2020 through 60 days after the announced end of the COVID-19 national emergency (the “Outbreak Period”) in determining, among …