Children's Health Insurance Premium Reduction Assistance (CHIPRA)

On February 4, 2010 the US Department of Labor published rules for distribution of CHIP Premium Assistance notices together with a model notice. Immediate action is required for employers whose plan year began March or April 1st, 2010. All other employers must comply on their 2010 renewal date. Employers need to revise their open enrollment materials and provide the newly released notice.

Employers who sponsor an insured or self-funded group health plan must provide the notice to all employees, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the employer's health plan.

Employers are required to provide the CHIP Premium Assistance notice on or before the following deadlines:

a. For plan years beginning February 4, 2010 through April 30, 2010 the deadline for providing the Employer CHIP notice is May 1, 2010.

b. For plan years beginning on or after May 1, 2010, the Employer CHIP notice must be provided by the first day of the next plan year (January 1, 2011 for calendar year plans).

Thereafter, the notices must be provided annually.

CHIPRA Employer Information & Checklist

CHIPRA Model Premium Assistance Notice

The model notice is also available on the DOL website at www.dol.gov/ebsa/.

Please contact us with any questions about this new notice or contact CHIP directly.

CHIP Website: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/app_benefits/ohp4u.shtml

CHIP Phone: 1-800-359-9517

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