What are the COBRA subsidy notice requirements from my health plan?
Plans and issuers are required to notify those who qualify for the premium subsidy about the premium reductions and other rights under the Recovery Act. The notices include the following: • A general notice to all qualified people, whether they are currently enrolled in COBRA coverage or not, who have a qualifying event during the period from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. This notice may be provided separately or with the regular COBRA election notice following a COBRA qualifying event. • A notice of the extended COBRA election period to any people eligible for this election period: 1) those who had a qualifying event at any time from September 1, 2008 through February 16, 2009; and 2) those who either did not elect COBRA continuation coverage or who elected but subsequently discontinued COBRA. This notice should have been provided by April 18, 2009 – 60 days following February 17, 2009. California’s new law (AB 23) requires health plans to inform qualified people of the