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<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Forwarded on Behalf of PEBB:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b>From:</b> PEBB - PDB Administration <<a href="mailto:PDB.Administration@dhsoha.state.or.us">PDB.Administration@dhsoha.state.or.us</a>>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 10, 2021 3:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> PEBB - PDB Administration <<a href="mailto:PDB.Administration@dhsoha.state.or.us">PDB.Administration@dhsoha.state.or.us</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> PEBB - All Staff <<a href="mailto:PEBB_AllStaff@dhsoha.state.or.us">PEBB_AllStaff@dhsoha.state.or.us</a>>; OEBB - All Staff <<a href="mailto:OEBB_AllStaff@dhsoha.state.or.us">OEBB_AllStaff@dhsoha.state.or.us</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> More Information: The PEBB COBRA Subsidy Process<br>
<b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="672" height="113" style="width:7.0in;height:1.177in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D73DBB.345392F0"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dear Partners,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">On April 30, we sent you an email describing the new COBRA subsidy required by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).
<a name="_Hlk71535677">That message described how we will determine who will be eligible for this employer-paid subsidy. We have pasted a copy of that email at the bottom of this message.
<b>We have also attached an Eligibility Guide</b> to help you figure out what should be labeled “voluntary” or “involuntary” for this process.
<o:p></o:p></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk71535677"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk71535677"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">As promised in our earlier message, we have now defined
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk71535677"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk71535677"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">THE INVOICE AND BILLING PROCESS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk71535677"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">PEBB will distribute invoices and collect premiums on behalf of BHS. This avoids the need for individual contracts between BHS and each employer.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk71535677"></span>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Members who meet the eligibility requirements (listed in our previous message and pasted below) are eligible for the COBRA subsidy program.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">BHS will enroll eligible beneficiaries (and their dependents, as applicable) retroactively effective April 1, 2021.</span>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">BHS will send PEBB monthly invoices for the eligible member/dependent(s).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">PEBB will distribute the invoices to the appropriate employers.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Each employer will send the premium (payment) to PEBB.
<b>It’s very important that the payment be sent timely, within 10-15 days of the receipt of the invoice.</b>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">PEBB will send BHS the premium received from each employer.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">BHS will forward premiums to the appropriate health plan carriers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:red">YOUR ACTION REQUIRED:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">We need to know who will serve as your point-of-contact for invoices and payment questions.
<b><span style="color:red">Please send the name and email for your primary invoice point-of-contact to Rosie Chernishoff at
</span></b></span><span style="color:#4472C4"><a href="mailto:Rosie.CHERNISHOFF@dhsoha.state.or.us"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4">Rosie.CHERNISHOFF@dhsoha.state.or.us</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:red"> no later
than Friday, May 14, 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thank you, again, for your patience as we work through compliance with this law. As we said earlier,
</span>our number one goal is to create a simple process with the least amount of additional work for you.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">If you have any questions regarding the financial process, please contact Rosie Chernishoff at
</span></b><a href="mailto:rosie.chernishoff@dhsoha.state.or.us"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">rosie.chernishoff@dhsoha.state.or.us</span></b></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Ali Hassoun<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Director <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Oregon Educators Benefit Board / Public Employees’ Benefit Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Oregon Health Authority – Health Policy & Analytics<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">REFERENCE COPY OF APRIL 30 MESSAGE BELOW:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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Dear Partners,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), was signed on March 11, 2021. This new federal law subsidizes the full COBRA premium for “Assistance Eligible Individuals” (AEI). This premium assistance is available from April 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="color:#252525">An AEI qualifies for COBRA premium assistance if they:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2">
lose benefits due to involuntary employment termination or work hours reduction, AND<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2">
are not eligible for other group health coverage (a new employer or spouse’s employer plan), AND
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2">
are not eligible for Medicare, AND<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2">
are eligible and elect COBRA during the subsidy period.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
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<span style="color:#252525"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#252525">Employers are responsible for paying 100 percent of an AEI's COBRA premium during the subsidy period (April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021). You will be reimbursed by the federal government through:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;text-autospace:none">
<span style="color:#252525">A credit against payroll taxes, and (if applicable)</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;text-autospace:none">
<span style="color:#252525">An overpayment refund for credit amounts exceeding payroll taxes.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul>
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Employers that don’t satisfy COBRA continuation coverage requirements may be investigated
<span lang="EN">by the Department of Labor. They may also be </span>subject to an excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="color:#252525"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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PEBB currently contracts with BenefitHelp Solutions (BHS) for our COBRA needs. Together we have developed the following process to determine subsidy eligibility:
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;text-autospace:none">
<a name="_Hlk70657630">BHS will send legally required COBRA notices to all current COBRA members and those newly eligible, no later than May 31, 2021.
<o:p></o:p></a></li><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk70657630"></span>
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BHS will also send an attestation form. This form outlines the eligibility requirements. The beneficiary will need to sign and date the form attesting that they are eligible for the COBRA subsidy program.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;text-autospace:none">
BHS will send PEBB a weekly list of possible COBRA subsidy-eligible members. <o:p>
</o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;text-autospace:none">
PEBB staff will verify the BHS list against a Workday list which includes termination reasons.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;text-autospace:none">
If your agency is not included in the Workday list, we will send your list to you for review. Please indicate the termination reason (involuntary, voluntary, reduction in hours) and return. PEBB staff will send the list to BHS.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4;text-autospace:none">
BHS will enroll eligible beneficiaries into the COBRA subsidy program retroactively effective April 1, 2021.
<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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This completes the first part of the process. We are currently working out the invoice and billing process. We will provide those details once we have a solution in place.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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Thank you for your patience as we work through compliance with this law. Our number one goal is to create a simple process with the least amount of additional work for you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b>If you have questions about <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5">
<b>eligibility for the subsidy, please call BHS at 1-800-556-2230. <o:p></o:p></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5">
<b>the process we have described here, please email Sheila Clausen, OEBB/PEBB Policy Analyst at:
</b><a href="mailto:SHEILA.C.CLAUSEN@dhsoha.state.or.us"><b>SHEILA.C.CLAUSEN@dhsoha.state.or.us</b></a><b>.<o:p></o:p></b></li></ul>
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<b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
<b>Ali Hassoun<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
Director <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
Oregon Educators Benefit Board / Public Employees’ Benefit Board<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal">
Oregon Health Authority – Health Policy & Analytics<o:p></o:p></p>
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