Reminder: Distribute Health Plan Notices by December 31
Remember to give the following required disclosure notices to employees in the NRECA Medical Plan before December 31. Cooperatives are responsible for preparing and distributing these notices. Providing them keeps your plans in good compliance standing.
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act Notice
Give this notice to employees at your co-op who participate the NRECA Medical Plan. It tells them that medical plans are required to provide certain benefits for mastectomy-related services including all stages of reconstruction and surgery. Send the notice either alone, in a benefits newsletter or with other benefits information. Co-ops must prepare the notice, but a sample is posted on the Employee Benefits website.
Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Notice
If your co-op offers the NRECA Medical Plan and is located in certain states, you must give the CHIPRA notice to employees who participate in the plan. It tells them that they may be eligible for premium assistance from state programs. A model notice is available on the Department of Labor’s website at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/chipmodelnotice.pdf
Employers in these states must distribute this notice: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Delivery methods
It’s always correct to give out printed copies of these notices. However, you may be able to provide them electronically under certain conditions. Check the electronic distribution rules posted on the Employee Benefits website to find out if you can use an electronic method.
If you have questions, contact the benefits compliance team at 866.673.2299, option 7, or group.compliance@nreca.coop.