The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it is beginning to accept applications for participation in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.

Plan sponsors wishing to participate in the program should visit the appropriate HHS Web site, available by clicking here. HHS has stated that plan sponsors should use the most current version of the application on the Web site. Plan sponsors should also read the accompanying guidance to make sure that they are completing and submitting the application correctly and complying with the program.

For more information on the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, which provides temporary reimbursements for a portion of the cost of providing health coverage to certain pre-Medicare retirees, please see our alerts dated May 4, 2010, and June 8, 2010.

Members of our Health Care Reform Initiative can assist employers and other plan sponsors who wish to apply for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Please contact Brian M. Pinheiro, 215.864.8511 or pinheiro@ballardspahr.com; Edward I. Leeds, 215.864.8419 or leeds@ballardspahr.com; or any member of our Health Care Reform Initiative as soon as possible if you are interested in learning more about the program.

As the federal health care reform effort gained steam, Ballard Spahr attorneys formed an initiative to monitor and analyze legislative developments. With federal health care reform now a reality, our attorneys are assisting employers in understanding the relevant changes and planning for the future. For more information on the firm’s Health Care Reform Initiative, please click here.