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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included a COBRA premium assistance program, which subsidizes 100% of the COBRA premiums from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021, for individuals who have COBRA coverage during that time period resulting from a reduction in hours or an involuntary termination of employment. The Department of Labor has previously provided guidance about notices that employers must send by May 31, but this guidance did not address many questions that employers have struggled with around eligibility. Moreover, there’s been a great deal of uncertainty around who covers the COBRA premiums and how to get reimbursed.

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The IRS has finally issued guidance that answers many of these questions.   Among other things, <a href="https://admin.wnjdev.contentpilot.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Premium-Assistance-for-COBRA-Benefits-Notice-2021-31.pdf">IRS Notice 2021-31</a> provides more details around eligibility requirements. For example, Q&amp;As 21-23 deal with reduction of hours situations, and Q&amp;As 24-34 deal with involuntary termination issues. Q&amp;A 17 clarifies that an individual who originally enrolled in and continued to be covered under COBRA because of a reduction in hours or involuntary termination of employment is also eligible for COBRA subsidies if the COBRA coverage is extended because of a disability determination, a second qualifying event or an extension under a state’s COBRA law, if the extended coverage period falls between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021.   But what employers will probably find the most helpful are the sections dealing with the COBRA Premium Assistance Credit in Q&amp;As 63-86. In particular, Q&amp;A 71 states that the “premium payee” is the entity that is eligible for the credit, and Q&amp;A 72 defines the premium payee as:

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This means that most employers, even those with insured coverage, will have to cover the cost of the premium and request a rebate from the federal government. The IRS has also released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnj.com/getmedia/cb559568-34a0-4eca-a26f-90fb0cf87170/Form-7200-Advance-Payment-of-Employer-Credits-Due-to-COVID-19.pdf.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Form 7200</a>&nbsp;and its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnj.com/getmedia/628fc7a3-0f27-4438-8e3f-4f0777552a39/Instructions-Form-7200.pdf.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">instructions</a>, which provide additional details on how to request the rebate. &nbsp; If you need assistance with COBRA subsidy issues, Warner can help! Please contact Norbert Kugele, Stephanie Grant or any other member of Warner’s Employee Benefits/ Executive Compensation Practice Group.

Senior Counsel

Stephanie H. Grant

Employee Benefits

IRS Provides Guidance on COBRA Premium Assistance Program

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IRS Provides Guidance on COBRA Premium Assistance Program

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