The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 ("CHIPRA") was signed into law on February 4, 2009. In order to be in compliance with this law, you must provide notice to your employees of their rights under CHIPRA. For purposes of the Employer CHIP Notice requirement, an employer providing benefits (directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise) for medical care in a State is considered to maintain a group health plan in that State. If that State provides medical assistance under a State Medicaid plan, or child health assistance under a State child health plan, in the form of premium assistance for the purchase of group health plan coverage, the employer is required to provide the Employer CHIP Notice.

An Employer CHIP Notice must inform each employee, regardless of enrollment status, of potential opportunities for premium assistance in the State in which the employee resides. The State is which the employee resides may or may not be the same as the State in which the employer, the employer's principal place of business, the health plan, its insurer, or other service providers are located.

If your plan year begins or renews between February 4, 2010 and April 30, 2010 you must provide the notice by May 1, 2010. If your plan renews on or after May 1, 2010 you must provide the notice by your upcoming renewal date.

For you convenience, I have attached a copy of the standard notice provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. You can also find additional information at www.dol.gov/ebsa/chipmodelnotice.doc. As always, feel free to contact us directly should you have any questions.