Issue 21

The ARPA COBRA premium subsidy ended Sept. 30, 2021. We sent letters to COBRA members receiving ARPA subsidy benefits notifying them that the Period of Premium Assistance expired. We also included COBRA premium payment coupons that start with the next premium month due.

Please note: Because of COBRA grace periods, our COBRA remittances always run a month behind the current billing for your UPMCBMS active groups. Regarding the ARPA subsidy, that means you may still receive ARPA premium subsidy invoices from UPMCBMS through the end of this year.¹ This situation will occur if you add new assistance-eligible members.²

Contact your dedicated COBRA analyst with any questions about your COBRA subsidy members.

Open Enrollment

What You Need to Know

Remember, COBRA-qualified beneficiaries have the same rights as active employees. During Open Enrollment, employees can change their benefits and add or remove dependents. Qualified COBRA beneficiaries can do the same.

If you offer an Open Enrollment period to active employees, you must do the same for COBRA participants. If you have the Buy Up COBRA option, Open Enrollment services for COBRA members are part of your COBRA administration package. Contact your dedicated COBRA analyst for more information.

¹May receive subsidiary invoice in 2022, depending upon your billing cycle.

²Specific to any COBRA offer requests, with retroactive effective date within ARPA timeframe.