ARPA UPDATE: DOL ISSUES COBRA FORM NOTICES AND GUIDANCE

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), provided premium assistance and an extended election period under COBRA and similar state laws for assistance eligible individuals.  Employers were required to provide certain notices to individuals regarding the premium assistance and extended election period, and the DOL was directed to issue model notices for such purposes. The DOL has now issued the model notices and has provided some further guidance on the COBRA provisions of the ARPA. Employers should now review these model notices, modify them as necessary, and establish administrative processes for completing and furnishing the notices.  The notices, FAQs and other helpful information is available here.