The Department of Labor (\u201cDOL\u201d) and other federal agencies released updated model COBRA notices and expanded COBRA deadlines in an effort to reduce the risk of participants and beneficiaries losing benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Updated Model COBRA Notices <\/strong><\/p>\n Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (\u201cCOBRA\u201d), an individual who was covered by a group health plan on the day before the occurrence of a qualification event, i.e. termination of employment or a reduction in hours that results in loss of coverage under the plan, may be able to elect COBRA continuation coverage upon that qualifying event. Under COBRA, group health plans must provide covered employees and their families certain notices explaining their COBRA rights. The first is a written notice of COBRA rights, called a \u201cgeneral notice,\u201d which is given to an employee and spouse at the time of commencement of coverage. A group health plan must also provide an employee and spouse with an \u201celection notice\u201d upon a qualifying event, which outlines how to make an election under COBRA continuation coverage. The DOL has created model notices, which plans can use to satisfy these requirements under COBRA.<\/p>\n