Resources Available for COBRA Administration by UMR

There are several resources available online for cooperatives interested in electing COBRA administration by UMR during the annual benefits renewal period.

During the upcoming annual benefits renewal period, August 12 through September 26, co-ops participating in the NRECA Medical Plan will have the option to elect COBRA administration by UMR, Inc. at the subgroup level. If elected, UMR will administer COBRA for medical, vision and dental coverage effective January 1, 2015, for all COBRA qualifying events except the death of an employee or retiree.

This new option comes at no additional cost and should reduce the COBRA-associated tasks currently required of benefits administrators. UMR will process eligibility, send qualifying event and other notices, process enrollment, provide payment coupons, collect premium payments, provide premium reconciliation reports to the co-op, process terminations and provide customer service to both co-ops and qualified beneficiaries.

There are several resources available to co-ops interested in electing COBRA administration by UMR. Slides and a recording of the July 22 COBRA webinar are available on the Employee Benefits website, as are a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document and an executive summary. Questions received in the webinar will be addressed in a forthcoming version of the FAQs. Information about UMR-administered COBRA also will be presented at the INTERACT conference.

In October, co-ops that elect COBRA administration by UMR will receive a detailed welcome kit that contains service details, sample notices and reports, and contact information for UMR’s NRECA-dedicated customer service staff. If you have questions about COBRA administration by UMR, please contact the Member Contact Center at 1.866.673.2299 or contactcenter@nreca.coop.