The ARPA COBRA subsidy: who qualified for 100% premium coverage

Originally posted March 12, 2021 by Chris Vanderwolk

FYI - Anyone that lost their job or had their hours reduced in the last year or so and lost their health insurance as a result may be eligible for a 100% subsidy and a new election opportunity for 4/1-9/30 as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act signed yesterday.

It only applies to involuntary terminations and reductions of hours, but eligible individuals can get no-cost COBRA coverage through their prior employer if they aren't eligible for another group plan.

There's a little more to it than that, but if you think someone is eligible, they should reach out to their former employer.

Originally posted on LinkedIn, where the discussion and source links live in the comments.

About the author

Chris Vanderwolk is Director of Compliance and Innovation at OneDigital | Kistler Tiffany Benefits General Agency, where he helps brokers and employers navigate the regulatory complexity of employee benefits. An ERISA attorney with more than 19 years in the benefits industry, he specializes in translating what the law actually requires into language people can use.