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For Retiree Health Plan Sponsors, Immediate Action Is Needed

Release Date: June 30, 2010

As described in our prior Alerts, the new health care reform law provides a federal subsidy for health plans that cover early retirees, to help offset the cost of such coverage. Both private and public sector plans are eligible. Limited funds were allocated to this program and the funds are to be disbursed on a "first come first served" basis until exhausted. Applying early is critical for plans seeking subsidy funds.

On June 29, 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final application form for this program, and formally opened the application process. Accordingly, sponsors of retiree health plans that might be eligible for this subsidy should complete and file the application as soon as possible.

Although an online application system will be established at some point, plan sponsors are initially required to file "hard copy" applications. Below you will find links to the final application form and application instructions, as well as a prior alert detailing the subsidy program.

To access a printer-friendly copy of the Alert, please click here.

If you have any questions about the retiree reinsurance program or any other aspect of health care reform, please contact Robert W. Patterson at 716.843.3910 or rpatterson@jaeckle.com, or Michele O. Heffernan at 716.843.3850 or mheffernan@jaeckle.com.

This Jaeckle Alert, prepared by the attorneys at Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or an opinion on specific facts. For more information on these issues, contact one of the attorneys listed above or your existing Firm contact. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The invitation to contact is not a solicitation for legal work in any jurisdiction in which the contacted attorney is not admitted to practice. Any attorney/client relationship must be confirmed in writing.