NEW HEALTH CARE LAW REQUIRES ADDITIONAL SPECIAL ENROLLMENT RIGHTS, NOTICE, AND DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYER-PROVIDED GROUP HEALTH PLANS
February 17, 2009
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009 extends and expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Under the new law, states are allowed to subsidize premiums for employer-provided group health coverage for eligible children and families. The new law also requires employer-provided group health plans and insurers to permit employees and their dependents that are eligible for coverage but not enrolled in coverage but not enrolled under the plan to enroll if they become ineligible for coverage under Medicaid or a SCHIP. Besides these new additional special enrollment rights, the law provides new notice and disclosure obligations for employers that maintain group health plans.