The Department of Labor issued new FAQs about the Affordable Care Act, including updated model COBRA notices. Please see the following link: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca19.html.
The updated model notices were issued as coverage options are now available in the Marketplace. Some qualified beneficiaries may want to consider and compare health coverage alternatives (such as the Marketplace) to COBRA continuation coverage, or may be eligible for a premium tax credit (a tax credit to help pay for some or all of the cost of coverage in plans offered through the Marketplace) and cost-sharing reductions (amounts that lower out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments), and may find that Marketplace coverage is more affordable than COBRA.
The Department of Labor has model notices that plans may use to satisfy the requirement to provide the general notice and election notice under COBRA, and the notice regarding premium assistance under CHIPRA. The Department of Labor (DOL) also issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as well as updated versions of the model general notice and model election notice that reflect that the Marketplace is now open and that better describes special enrollment rights in Marketplace coverage. In addition, DOL issued a revised CHIPRA notice with similar updates related to Marketplace coverage.
The model notices are available at these links: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html and http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/compliance_assistance.html.
By Denise Bloch
