COBRA Archives - Word on Benefits

New Survey Results—Companies Outsource 40% of Their Benefits Functions

Cara McMullin

29 Aug 202329 Aug 2023

A new survey report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans reveals the operations and staffing practices of corporate benefits departments across the United States. Key findings from Corporate Benefits Departments: Staffing include outsourcing strategies, the greatest challenges facing benefits departments, […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits HIPAA Insurance Legislative Regulatory

The End of the COVID-19 Emergencies Arrives Early

Amanda Wilke

12 Apr 202318 Apr 2023

This blog has been updated with new information from the previous version published on April 12, 2023. President Biden signed H.R. Res. 7 on Monday, April 10, 2023, to end the national emergency (NE) for COVID-19, effective immediately. Although the NE ended […]

Compliance Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Health Care HIPAA Insurance Regulatory U.S.

It’s Coming—The End of the COVID-19 Emergencies

Amanda Wilke

21 Mar 202321 Mar 2023

After nearly three years, the time has finally come. The Biden administration announced that both the COVID-19 national emergency (NE) and the public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. Now it’s time for employers to prepare to unwind the […]

Employee Benefits ERISA Health Care Insurance U.S. Webcast

What to Know About Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements

Anne Newhouse

02 Mar 202310 Mar 2023

Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) have traditionally been used for medical cost sharing purposes to help employees with copays, coinsurance and deductibles. On June 13, 2019, the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services issued a final rule creating a […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care Multiemployer Regulatory U.S.

How Do Multiemployer Plans Claim COBRA Premium Assistance Credit?

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 Jun 202108 Jun 2021

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2021-31 which provides guidance for multiemployer plans and plan administrators regarding the new credit available to them for providing continuation health coverage to certain individuals under COBRA. We summarized the COBRA changes under American […]

Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

COBRA’s Interaction With HSAs, HRAs and FSAs

Anne Newhouse

17 May 202113 May 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), signed into law on March 11, 2021, contains new COBRA provisions, including a subsidy for the full monthly COBRA premium from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Our March 25, 2021 blog addressed […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) U.S.

DOL Releases Model Notices for COBRA Subsidy Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

27 Apr 202128 Apr 2021

Thirty-five years ago this month, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) was signed into law. COBRA provides a way for workers and their families to temporarily maintain their employer-provided health insurance during situations such as job loss or a […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Legislative Regulatory U.S.

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and COBRA Subsidies

Anne Newhouse

25 Mar 202119 Apr 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) passed by Congress and signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021 contains various employee benefits provisions, including premium assistance for participants of group health plans through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

Impact of the COBRA Extension Interim Final Rule

Anne Newhouse

14 Sep 202010 Sep 2020

On January 31, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initially declared a federal public health emergency due to the coronavirus. The declaration has now been extended twice, including the latest extension on July 23, 2020. Unless the declaration is terminated […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

Medicare and COBRA Coordination During COVID-19

Anne Newhouse

04 Aug 202004 Aug 2020

Maintaining access to health insurance is a huge priority for both employers and employees right now. With some employers having to make hard decisions about layoffs, furloughs and terminations, one of the situations plan sponsors should be mindful of is the integration […]