The Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") released the final application for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (the "Program") introduced under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA"). The Program provides reimbursement to sponsors of participating employment-based plans for a portion of the cost of health benefits for early retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses and dependents. A plan sponsor offering early retiree coverage may apply for the Program, and if its application is accepted, the Secretary of HHS will reimburse the sponsor for certain claims between $15,000 and $90,000 (with those amounts being indexed for plan years starting on or after October 1, 2011).

The application, instructions to the application and other information relating to the Program may be found here.

Parker Poe's previous article on the Program may be found here.