OCA's ARPA Operational Update (Week of April 5th)
 
Last week, OCA communicated that the email campaign to employers and brokers would begin the week of April 5th. The campaign was to identify each employers list of potentially assistance eligible individuals (AEIs).

OCA is 10 Days Ahead of Schedule

OCA's dedicated COBRA team worked over the holiday weekend to ensure our clients began receiving their potential AEI list ahead of schedule. Many of our clients have already received their group specific email or will be receiving the email within the next 48 hours. Our updated expected completion time is now April 7th (previously April 15th).

The email included an attachment listing the employers potential AEIs. Clients were asked to update the file by validating the AEIs "termination type" and submitting their confirmation using OCA's ARPA subsidy verification form. To view a sample of the email communication, please click here. 

If OCA does not hear from the employer/broker by April 30, 2021 (or prior to OCA mailing the special election notice), OCA will assume the termed employee was involuntary terminated, resulting in the AEI receiving the special election notice. Please note that OCA will be charging a one-time special per notice fee of $2.25.  

When Will ARPA Notices Be Sent to AEI?
 
OCA will be mailing out a special election notice to eligible individuals with the understanding that:
    • ARPA calls for the Department of Labor to issue model notices within 30 days of the enactment and it is very likely OCA will wait for the DOL to issue the model notice before mailing out the special election notice to eligible individuals.
    • ARPA states that the special election notice must go out within 60 days of April 1st.
    • Eligible individuals will then have 60 days after the date on which the special notice is provided, with the subsidy going back to April 1st.
    • Please note that a special per notice fee will apply.

 

To stay up to date on ARPA, please visit OCA's ARPA Resource page at oca125.com/subsidyfaqs/.