According to the latest Department of Labor release, published yesterday, the effective date for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) is in fact April 1, and not April 2 as we had previously believed.

The release also included links to new resources: a Fact Sheet for Employees, Fact Sheet for Employers, and Question and Answer document.  We encourage you to review and share.

The full DOL release from yesterday can be found here.

As you are well aware, the Coronavirus and resulting situation have created novel challenges and uncertainty for the work force, including issues related to health coverage.  Some employees may be removed from group plans due to layoffs or reduction in hours and will need to replace coverage.  Medi-Cal and Covered California are more affordable alternatives to Cobra or Cal-Cobra.

Applications for these plans must be submitted by March 31 for April 1 start dates, so it is a time sensitive issue.  Affected employees can contact Medi-Cal or Covered California directly, but due to the extreme call volume they are struggling to respond.  If you have employees who you believe may be interested in replacing coverage and need help please call us and we will refer you to a professional insurance representative.