-- The employer must pay the 65% to the government and then deduct that as a credit against payroll and income taxes withheld from employees. -- The law is retroactive to September 1, 2008, and the employer must reach out to both those who took COBRA at that time and to those who didn't take it. -- There will be a special "open enrollment" for those who are eligible for COBRA but didn't take it. This lets them join at 35% of the cost.More details are found on Edholm's benefits blog at http://bbibenefits.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/more-details-on-stimulus-act-cobra-requirements/. Business Benefits Insurance (www.bbibenefits.com) is an employee benefits planning firm in Andover, Mass., serving employers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Contact Information: Contact: Henry Stimpson Stimpson Communications 508-647-0705 Henry@StimpsonCommunications.com Jim Edholm Business Benefits Insurance 978-474-4730 jedholm@bbibenefits.com