Originally presented on April 14, 2009
10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)

Order Option       Price   CD Recording Only       $219

The DOL has set a deadline of April 18 for employers to comply with new model notices.

If you sponsor a group health plan, you won't want to miss our upcoming event all about the latest developments concerning the COBRA subsidy, including special considerations for California employers and how ensure that you're in compliance by the deadline.

Still have questions about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) Act's COBRA subsidy provisions? Everyone seems to. It's not surprising since the ARRA left little, if any, time to prepare when it went into effect immediately upon being signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009.

The Act requires employers to provide notice to "assistance eligible individuals" (AEIs) who have lost or will lose their jobs between Sept. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009 of their the right to pay reduced COBRA premiums of 35 percent for periods of coverage beginning on or after Feb. 17, 2009, with available coverage lasting up to nine months following the separation of employment.

Listen to an n-depth 90-minute audio conference where we'll explain the fundamental aspects of the subsidy, and, probably most importantly for right now, we'll provide crucial insight into the subsidy's payroll and tax implications and answer questions you may have about the DOL's model notices. Our expert—a seasoned employee benefits attorney—will teach you how to determine which AEIs should receive which notice and why, and she'll discuss Cal-COBRA requirements that could affect your notice obligations. You'll also learn:

• When AEIs may be eligible to change their benefit elections, and the deadline for them to make those changes
• What impact the subsidy may have on pre-existing condition limitations
• How to evaluate when the COBRA premium subsidy ends
• The subsidy's payroll and tax implications for your organization
• When "alternative notice" is necessary and how to ensure that you're amending your notice to comply with any applicable Cal-COBRA requirements
• Which California employers are subject to the federal notice and which are not, and why
• How to evaluate whether you'll need to customize the DOL's model forms
• The action plan every plan sponsor needs to implement to ensure compliance with the notice requirements

About Your Speaker:

Tonie L. Bitseff is an experienced ERISA lawyer with Marin Legal PC, a Sausalito, California-based firm. Regarded as a leading authority on HIPAA, COBRA and health plan compliance, Bitseff is a leader in San Francisco's professional pension and benefits community. She represents and counsels clients regarding health benefits, pension plans, and other forms of compensation and employee benefits, and she has written extensively on benefit-related issues.

This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). This program is also a California-specific continuing education activity for PHR-CA and SPHR-CA recertification. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCI's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.

The Employer Resource Institute is an approved MCLE Multiple Activity Provider, and this program has been approved for 1.5 hours of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. For more information, please contact our customer service department at (800) 695-7178.

Bonus Offer

As an additional benefit, you will receive a no-risk trial subscription to California Employer Advisor when you register for this Audio Conference (or purchase a CD recording). You will receive 3 evaluation issues. If you want to continue to receive the newsletter, simply pay the invoice you will receive in the mail. If you decide the newsletter isn't for you, just write cancel on the invoice and return it. You will owe nothing, and all issues you receive are yours to keep. As with all ERI products, your satisfaction is guaranteed 100%. (Offer good for new subscribers only.)

How Do Audio Conferences Work?

An Audio Conference is remarkably cost-effective and convenient. You participate from your office using a regular telephone. You have no travel costs and no out-of-office time.

Plus, for one low price you can get as many people in your office to participate as you can fit around a speakerphone.

Because the conference is live, you can ask the speakers questions' either on the phone or via e-mail.

With your registration, you also receive conference materials with additional practical information from Employer Resource Institute sent to you via e-mail shortly before the conference.

Why You Can Sign Up To Attend This Event with Confidence

As with all Employer Resource Institute products, you're completely protected. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with this Audio Conference, simply let us know and we will return your entire registration fee.