New COBRA Subsidy Extension: Step-by-Step Guidance for Employers

President Barack Obama just signed legislation into law that extends the original federal COBRA subsidy created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. American employers now face daunting new notice and paperwork requirements (and financial challenges), as this new legislation allows certain individuals to get back on COBRA coverage and many former employees to remain on the rolls for a longer period of time.

Learning Objectives:

• What the law provides to individuals losing their jobs and how employers are affected and reimbursed.
• Steps employers should take NOW.
• The duration of the COBRA subsidy under the extension and new reporting requirements.
• Specific revisions employers must make to COBRA notices.
• Revisiting the definition of “Assistance Eligible Individuals (AEIs)” and how to identify them.
• How to handle former qualified beneficiaries whose subsidy expired November 30, 2009, and either didn’t pay for coverage in December or paid a full premium.
• An explanation of the important dates regarding AEIs and any other dates included in the law.
• An explanation of the COBRA subsidy provided by the government.
• Revisiting the process employers will follow to receive reimbursement for the government’s portion of the premium.

Presented by:

Ashley Gillihan is a member of Alston & Bird’s Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA Litigation Groups. He focuses his practice exclusively on health and welfare employee benefit compliance and litigation issues for employers, health plan administrators, and other health and welfare benefit plan service providers.

He also has extensive experience assisting financial institutions and insurance companies who serve as Health Savings Account trustees or custodians. He is active in publishing and speaking on various health and welfare benefit plan related topics and serves as a faculty member and/or technical adviser for several health and welfare benefits plan focused organizations. He frequently speaks at the annual Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Nashville and Las Vegas.

Who would benefit from this program:

• HR Managers
• HR Directors
• HR Professionals

Continuing Education:

• This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage.

Product Options:

• Recorded CD and Streaming Audio: $247.00

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes

Note: This product not valid for use with Workplace Training Center Training Bucks.