COBRA NOTICE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

COBRA Notice and Additional Information

When a group health plan administrator sends out the COBRA model election notice, it may include, in or along with, additional information about the Health Insurance Marketplace, according to federal departments.

The federal Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury report that plan administrators may include other information about the marketplace (or exchange), such as:

• how to obtain assistance with enrollment in the marketplace or exchange (including special enrollment);
• the availability of financial assistance;
• information about marketplace websites and contact information;
• general information regarding particular products offered on the marketplace; and
• other information that may help in choosing between COBRA and other coverage options.

The federal departments indicate that COBRA election notices are required to be easily understood by the average plan participant, and therefore, should not be too lengthy or difficult to understand.

This information is contained in “FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation (Part 32),” which was released on June 21, 2016. For more information, follow this link.

COBRA generally applies to all group health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more employees, or by state or local governments. COBRA does not apply to plans sponsored by the federal government or by churches and certain church-related organizations.