Health and Human Services Temporary Reinsurance Program for Early Retirees and their Dependents

As part of National Health Care Reform, the federal government has established a temporary reinsurance program for early retirees and their dependents. This program applies to those employer groups who offer health insurance coverage to early retirees.  The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program will assist these employer groups with the cost of health care coverage.

How the Program Works
The government is providing $5 billion in financial assistance for this program.  The program begins on June 1, 2010, and ends on the earlier of the exhaustion of the financial assistance or January 1, 2014. Employers must apply to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to participate in the program using an application expected to be available toward the end of June.

For more information and application instructions, please visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Updated July 23, 2010