COBRA – It has CHANGED AGAIN! But it wasn’t actually the COBRA law that changed – you must track other laws to be sure you are in compliance. You have heard about the stimulus package but what has it done to our COBRA? The stimulus package now states that employees involuntarily losing their job between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, will have special COBRA privileges including eligibility of a tax subsidy of their COBRA premiums. Actually the employer fronts the money for the majority of the COBRA premium and receives a tax credit off of their payroll taxes. Important questions such as: Who is eligible for the tax subsidy? How does that money flow? What communications must be provided? What are the new election and notice time lines? Every letter must change!