This law affects groups and how your health plan coverage is administered.
On February 4, 2009 President Obama signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act into law. Among other things, the new law increases funding for state Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIPs) and makes a number of administrative changes to the program. In addition, the act also allows states to subsidize premiums for employer-sponsored group health coverage (not the same as the federal COBRA subsidy) and establishes new HIPAA special enrollment rights for individuals who either lose Medicaid or CHIP-funded medical coverage, or those who become eligible for a premium subsidy. Groups are required to provide an annual notice of these special enrollment rights to employees.
Groups are also required to disclose benefit information to a state Medicaid agency upon request.
We have also provided CHIP special enrollment (PDF) notification language for you to share with your employees.