COBRA TRAINING & Q&A SESSION
The Economic Stimulus package signed by President Obama on February 17th includes the most wide-ranging changes to COBRA since its inception and requires immediate action by Employers. Workforce Solutions hosted a joint training session with healthcare alliance partner, USI Southwest, one of the nation’s leading insurance brokerage firms, to help employers decipher the logistical & strategic impact of the new law.

FAQs addressed:

• How do the new provisions compare with current COBRA law?
• How much time do I have to get compliant & what needs to be done immediately?
• How do I determine who is assistance eligible?
• What if an employee was terminated for cause, including “gross misconduct?”
• Who is responsible for claiming the tax credit and what is the process?
• What are the parameters for extending other healthcare coverage options?
• Should high income individuals be handled differently?
• How and when do I distribute “second chance” election notices?
• Is the subsidy retroactive for current continuants? What about overpayments?
• How is Workforce Solutions responding to help businesses cope with changing regulations?

Featured Speaker:
Wendy C. Carmichael, Esq., USI Southwest’s in-house ERISA counsel
Ms. Carmichael earned her BA from Vanderbilt University and her JD from the U. of Oregon School of Law. Before joining USI Southwest she was in private practice at Courtney & Associates, P.C., practicing employee benefits law, and was named a 2006 Texas Rising Star by Texas Monthly magazine. At USI Southwest, Ms. Carmichael:

• monitors changes in benefits laws, including HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, ERISA & state insurance laws
• writes weekly updates and a quarterly client newsletter covering welfare plan developments & general issues
• makes presentations, internally and externally, explaining significant laws
• provides assistance with respect to specific legal questions (e.g., those concerning discrimination, participant communication and privacy) directly to clients, consultants, and account management personnel.

COBRA - Presenter Slides