COBRA Notice At 90 Days
Ed C
27 Posts
I just learned that recent changes to COBRA require employers to give a general notice to new hires at 90 days. My outsourced COBRA administrator told me yesterday that he did not know anything about a notice for new hires. Can someone who really knows explain what I need to do? Thanks.
Comments
First of all, consider getting a new COBRA administrator.
COBRA rules require that a General COBRA notice be furnished to each covered employee and covered spouse not later than:
• 90 days after the employee (and spouse, if any) first becomes covered under the plan, or
• The first date upon which the plan administrator must furnish an election notice to the employee, spouse, or dependent.
This notice informs the recipient of the general outline of COBRA and specifically informs the recipient about certain of COBRA's detailed rules which could apply if the recipient loses group health coverage at some later date.
Most importantly, the General COBRA Notice’s description of these detailed rules includes a discussion of the recipient's obligations under COBRA, including informing the Plan Administrator of certain events and of address changes.
I would be glad to give you an example of one or you could Google and get a look at a variety of acceptable formats. But to your original question, yes, the employer owes the eligible new-hire what is referred to as the General Notice.
Geno
SPHR
The notification is called "Global Notification Rights" and should be administered as Geno outlined. Your insurance carrier should be able to assist you in getting the verbiage specific to your plan.
My understanding of the new regulations, and have been informed of this by others, is that the notification contained in the SPD is NOT considered to have met the requirements UNLESS you can verify that the notification was received by the dependents as well. The recommendations I have received, and the practice I utilize, is to provide the EE with the SPD but also mail the initial notice to the EE and their dependents. I don't mail separate notices but the envelope is addressed to both the EE and the dependents.