The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) just released updated COBRA Model Notices that reflect the COBRA subsidy extension that was part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010. The new COBRA subsidy legislation extends the original federal COBRA subsidy created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and requires employers to provide notice to certain current and future COBRA beneficiaries that details the premium subsidy extension created by the new legislation.

The EBSA’s COBRA page now has several new model notices available, including:

• an Updated General Notice;
• a Premium Assistance Extension Notice; and
• an Updated Alternative Notice.

The updated notices can be located at www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRAmodelnotice.html.

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Want to learn more? Tune in to the HR Hero audio event New COBRA Subsidy Extension: Step-by-Step Guidance for Employers presented by Ashley Gillihan, an attorney who advises employers on health and welfare employee benefit compliance, on January 20 and February 4. For more information, call (800) 274-6774.

Also, you can keep up with the latest legal changes affecting employer benefits and trends in employee benefits with the Benefits and Compensation Law Alert and Benefits and Compensation Law for Nonprofits.