On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA, Pub. L. 111-3). CHIPRA includes a requirement that the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services develop a model notice for employers to use to inform employees of potential opportunities currently available in the State in which the employee resides for group health plan premium assistance under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
On February 4, 2010, the DOL provided a model notice for use by employers with group health plans, in accordance with the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA).
CHIPRA requires employers offering group health plans to notify all employees of their potential CHIPRA rights to receive premium assistance under a state’s Medicaid or CHIP program.
The requirement applies to employers that offer medical care benefits in any of 40 states that currently provide premium assistance. The 10 states that do not currently provide premium assistance are: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, South Dakota and Tennessee.
Employers must send the notice annually, starting with the first plan year after February 4, 2010. For plan years from February 4, 2010, through April 30, 2010, the initial notice deadline is May 1, 2010. For plan years starting after May 1, 2010, the notice deadline is the first day of the next plan year.
Get the EBSA sample CHIPRA notice HERE