Course Description
In 1986, Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act to give employees and their families a temporary extension of healthcare benefits once their employment ended.
Now, 25 years later, many HR professionals are still scratching their heads as they try to decipher COBRA regs and deadlines - from deciding which employees are qualified beneficiaries and what workplace events trigger COBRA coverage to giving workers notice of their COBRA rights and reviewing healthcare plans to confirm that they're COBRA compliant.
This summer, things will get even more complicated when the Supreme Court makes a decision on healthcare reform. Employers and healthcare plan sponsors will need to determine how to transition from their current practices for continuing coverage during leaves of absence and at termination of employment to new practices on the basis of law changes.
If you make a mistake, it can bring on expensive lawsuits, fines, and penalties - even if you have the best intentions.
Don't risk violations - get the tools you need to review your COBRA policies and practices from top to bottom so that you're completely up to date and in compliance with this important federal law.
Participate in this interactive webinar, and you'll learn:
- The current state of COBRA as well as changes on the horizon that could impact your organization
- Policies you'll need tor review and update, both immediately and when planning ahead
- Tactics for explaining healthcare regulations changes to both employees and other executives
- How the upcoming healthcare reform Supreme Court decision will affect COBRA - and what that will mean to HR departments in the coming months and years
- How different states, particularly California, will need to adjust their continuation coverage
- What effects the healthcare changes will have on early retirement coverage
- How healthcare law changes will affect different workplace populations, such as disabled employees, those on medical leave, and military personnel affected by USERRA
- And much more
In just 90 minutes, you'll be up to speed on everything you need to know about the ins and outs of COBRA. Register now for this timely event risk-free.
About your Speaker:
Attorney Tonie Bitseff is a member of Nixon Peabody LLP's Labor &Employment practice group. She is an experienced ERISA lawyer and regarded a leading authority on HIPAA, COBRA, and health plan compliance. Ms. Bitseff advises clients on health benefits, pension plans, and other forms of compensation and employee benefits. Her experience includes welfare plans, 401(k) plans, cafeteria plans, benefit outsourcing, defined benefit plans, vendor management, contract negotiations, dependent and domestic partner coverage and rights, plan governance, ERISA fiduciary liability, ERISA claims procedures, prohibited transactions, appeals, escalations, and government audits. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Ms. Bitseff was the co-founder of Marin Legal APC, a boutique employment and benefits firm. She also led the health and welfare plan practice of Thelen LLP.