Comments on: “How To” Manual on Health Coverage for the Unemployed in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act http://cobracontrol.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: basusacobra http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-790 basusacobra Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:17:08 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-790 These rules "permit" up to 60 days to notify the Plan Administrator of a COBRA event. The Plan Administrator is then permitted another 14 days to notify the QB. In other words, there is a total of 74 days prior to the start of the election period. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It should not be used or relied upon as the basis for any action or choosing inaction. Consult an experienced benefits attorney or tax professional about your specific situation before deciding on any course of action or inaction. These rules “permit” up to 60 days to notify the Plan Administrator of a COBRA event. The Plan Administrator is then permitted another 14 days to notify the QB. In other words, there is a total of 74 days prior to the start of the election period.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It should not be used or relied upon as the basis for any action or choosing inaction. Consult an experienced benefits attorney or tax professional about your specific situation before deciding on any course of action or inaction.

]]> By: basusacobra http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-370 basusacobra Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:59:57 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-370 Since you will be quitting your job, as you stated in your question, most likely you would not be an Assistance Eligible Employee for the purpose of the premium assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To be eligible, one criteria is that you must separate from your job INVOLUNTARILY. <strong>The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.</strong> Since you will be quitting your job, as you stated in your question, most likely you would not be an Assistance Eligible Employee for the purpose of the premium assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To be eligible, one criteria is that you must separate from your job INVOLUNTARILY.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

]]> By: debbies http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-369 debbies Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:09:29 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-369 I will quit my job....its in japan, but i need to continue my care, i have to move back to the states....the job isn't in th statea, would I qualify for cobra, since i have a family... I will quit my job….its in japan, but i need to continue my care, i have to move back to the states….the job isn’t in th statea, would I qualify for cobra, since i have a family…

]]> By: basusacobra http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-135 basusacobra Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:33:23 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-135 If the plan determines that you are not eligible for the premium reduction, you can request an expedited review of the denial. The Department of Labor will handle appeals related to private sector employer plans subject to ERISA’s COBRA provisions. The Department of Health and Human Services will handle appeals for Federal, State, and local governmental employees, as well as appeals related to group health insurance coverage provided pursuant to state continuation coverage laws. The Departments are required to make a determination regarding your appeal within 15 business days after receiving your completed application for review. Note: Appeals to the Department of Labor must be submitted on a U.S. Department of Labor application form. The form will soon be available at www.dol.gov/COBRA and can be completed online or mailed or faxed as indicated in the instructions. If you believe you have been inappropriately denied eligibility for the premium reduction, you may wish to speak with an Employee Benefits Security Administration Benefits Advisor at 1.866.444.3272 before filing this form. <strong>The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It should not be used or relied upon as the basis for any action or choosing inaction. Consult an experienced benefits attorney or tax professional about your specific situation before deciding on any course of action or inaction.</strong> If the plan determines that you are not eligible for the premium reduction, you can request an expedited review of the denial. The Department of Labor will handle appeals related to private sector employer plans subject to ERISA’s COBRA provisions. The Department of Health and Human Services will handle appeals for Federal, State, and local governmental employees, as well as appeals related to group health insurance coverage provided pursuant to state continuation coverage laws. The Departments are required to make a determination regarding your appeal within 15 business days after receiving your completed application for review.

Note: Appeals to the Department of Labor must be submitted on a U.S. Department of Labor application form. The form will soon be available at http://www.dol.gov/COBRA and can be completed online or mailed or faxed as indicated in the instructions.

If you believe you have been inappropriately denied eligibility for the premium reduction, you may wish to speak with an Employee Benefits Security Administration Benefits Advisor at 1.866.444.3272 before filing this form.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It should not be used or relied upon as the basis for any action or choosing inaction. Consult an experienced benefits attorney or tax professional about your specific situation before deciding on any course of action or inaction.

]]> By: E. JOANNE MASON http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-134 E. JOANNE MASON Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:11:31 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-134 How can I file a dispute with a former employer about the extended COBRA coverage? How can I file a dispute with a former employer about the extended COBRA coverage?

]]> By: basusacobra http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-113 basusacobra Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:21:54 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-113 We are not aware of any assistance program for non-group health insurance. The American Recovery & Reinvestmen Act of 2009 (ARRA), to the best of our knowledge, only provides premium assistance for group health insurance programs subject to COBRA or to group health plans subject to certain State's "mini-cobra" regulations. <strong>The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It should not be used or relied upon as the basis for any action or choosing inaction. Consult an experienced benefits attorney or tax professional about your specific situation before deciding on any course of action or inaction.</strong> We are not aware of any assistance program for non-group health insurance. The American Recovery & Reinvestmen Act of 2009 (ARRA), to the best of our knowledge, only provides premium assistance for group health insurance programs subject to COBRA or to group health plans subject to certain State’s “mini-cobra” regulations.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice, nor is it intended to advise you of your obligations under ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It should not be used or relied upon as the basis for any action or choosing inaction. Consult an experienced benefits attorney or tax professional about your specific situation before deciding on any course of action or inaction.

]]> By: Chuck Sharpe http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-112 Chuck Sharpe Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:29:55 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-112 i WAS TERMINATED FROM MY JOB IN OCTOBER OF 2008...IN ADDITION TO COMPANY INSURANCE I ALSO MAINTAINED BY OWN PLAN THROUGH MID-WEST NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF TENNESSEE. THOSE PAYMENTS ARE OVER $200 PER MONTH. WHERE CAN I GET ASSISTANCE IN THAT COVERAGE? i WAS TERMINATED FROM MY JOB IN OCTOBER OF 2008…IN ADDITION TO COMPANY INSURANCE I ALSO MAINTAINED BY OWN PLAN THROUGH MID-WEST NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF TENNESSEE. THOSE PAYMENTS ARE OVER $200 PER MONTH. WHERE CAN I GET ASSISTANCE IN THAT COVERAGE?

]]> By: Connie Folk http://cobracontrol.com/regulations/economic-stimulus-bill-pre-presidential-signing/%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-manual-on-health-coverage-for-the-unemployed-in-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act/#comment-95 Connie Folk Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:34:39 +0000 http://cobracontrol.com/?page_id=144#comment-95 when you talk about needing to sign up for cobra 90 days from the date of separation: what about a scenario where my severance package provides insurance until 11/09. I assume I will then be given the option to select cobra but did not need to select within 90 days of separation. correct? when you talk about needing to sign up for cobra 90 days from the date of separation: what about a scenario where my severance package provides insurance until 11/09. I assume I will then be given the option to select cobra but did not need to select within 90 days of separation. correct?

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