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Release Date: 08/04/2003
Release Number: 03-415
Contact Name: Sharon Morrissey
Phone Number: 202.693.8664
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Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of
Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced
a new compliance assistance guide to help employers, plan sponsors,
service providers and state officials understand the federal health
benefits law regarding qualified medical child support orders. |
Assistant
Secretary of Labor Ann L. Combs said, “By developing this new
publication as part of our continuing commitment to assist plan officials
comply with the law, we will ultimately assist thousands of children
secure health insurance coverage when their parents divorce or when
mandated by state authorities.” |
The
publication, which also will assist state child support enforcement
agencies, explains the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (ERISA) that require employer-sponsored group health plans to
extend health care coverage to children of a employees who are divorced,
separated or never married when ordered to do so by state authorities. |
A
state court or agency may require an ERISA-covered health plan to provide
benefits coverage to children by issuing a medical child support order. A
state child support enforcement agency may also obtain group health
coverage for a child by issuing a qualified National Medical Support
Notice. |
The
new guide, Compliance Assistance Guide…Qualified Medical Child
Support Orders, answers general questions about the orders, the
National Medical Support Notices, the role of state child support
enforcement agencies in obtaining the coverage for children, and other
resources. The publication is located on EBSA’s Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa
under Publications. |
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U.S. Department of Labor
news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news
release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large
print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive
Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing
your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7755. |
