On January 13, 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued updated model notices for the COBRA premium subsidy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as updated by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (the Appropriations Act). As discussed in our December 24, 2009 Legal Alert, the Appropriations Act extended eligibility for the COBRA premium subsidy for an additional two months and the maximum period for receiving the subsidy for an additional six months.

The DOL has updated the model general notice, the model alternative notice, and has also issued a model premium assistance extension notice to reflect the changes made by the Appropriations Act.