DOL Publishes Model CHIP Notice for Employers

The DOL has published a model notice that employers can use to satisfy the employer notice requirement under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). This legislation imposes notice and disclosure requirements on employers with group health plans in states that provide premium assistance for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIPs).

Please note: Ohio does not have a CHIP premium assistance program, so employers who have employees ONLY in Ohio are not subject to this notification requirement. However, companies with employees who reside in any of the 40 states listed in the model notice must meet the requirement and may use the model notice to do so.

Employers subject to the requirement must provide the employer CHIP notice annually. The initial notice must be distributed by the
later of:

• the first day of the first plan year after February 4, 2010, or
• May 1, 2010.

For calendar-year plans, the first notice must be provided by
January 1, 2011.

Employers can satisfy the requirement by distributing a separate notice or by incorporating it in other plan materials, such as open enrollment materials. A single version of the notice can be distributed in multiple states, and may even be distributed to employees in states that don’t currently provide premium assistance.

If your company has employees outside of Ohio and you would like help ensuring that you meet these requirements, please contact Cindy LaQuatra at BRG. You can reach Cindy by phone at 216-393-1848 or by email at claquatra@benefitsrg.com.