-
Sec. 3000.
Table of contents.
-
Sec. 3001.
Premium assistance for COBRA benefits.
SEC. 3001. PREMIUM ASSISTANCE FOR COBRA BENEFITS.
-
(a) Premium
Assistance for COBRA Continuation Coverage for
Individuals and Their Families-
-
(1) PROVISION
OF PREMIUM ASSISTANCE-
-
(A)
REDUCTION OF PREMIUMS PAYABLE- In the
case of any premium for a period of
coverage beginning on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act for COBRA
continuation coverage with respect to
any assistance eligible individual, such
individual shall be treated for purposes
of any COBRA continuation provision as
having paid the amount of such premium
if such individual pays (or a person
other than such individual's employer
pays on behalf of such individual) 35
percent of the amount of such premium
(as determined without regard to this
subsection).
-
(B) PLAN
ENROLLMENT OPTION-
-
(i) IN
GENERAL- Notwithstanding the COBRA
continuation provisions, an
assistance eligible individual may,
not later than 90 days after the
date of notice of the plan
enrollment option described in this
subparagraph, elect to enroll in
coverage under a plan offered by the
employer involved, or the employee
organization involved (including,
for this purpose, a joint board of
trustees of a multiemployer trust
affiliated with one or more
multiemployer plans), that is
different than coverage under the
plan in which such individual was
enrolled at the time the qualifying
event occurred, and such coverage
shall be treated as COBRA
continuation coverage for purposes
of the applicable COBRA continuation
coverage provision.
-
(ii)
REQUIREMENTS- An assistance eligible
individual may elect to enroll in
different coverage as described in
clause (i) only if--
-
(I) the employer involved has
made a determination that such
employer will permit assistance
eligible individuals to enroll
in different coverage as
provided for this subparagraph;
-
(II) the premium for such
different coverage does not
exceed the premium for coverage
in which the individual was
enrolled at the time the
qualifying event occurred;
-
(III) the different coverage in
which the individual elects to
enroll is coverage that is also
offered to the active employees
of the employer at the time at
which such election is made; and
-
(IV) the different coverage is
not--
-
(C)
PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT- For provisions
providing the balance of such premium,
see section 6432 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as added by paragraph
(12).
-
(2) LIMITATION
OF PERIOD OF PREMIUM ASSISTANCE-
-
(A) IN
GENERAL- Paragraph (1)(A) shall not
apply with respect to any assistance
eligible individual for months of
coverage beginning on or after the
earlier of--
-
(i)
the first date that such individual
is eligible for coverage under any
other group health plan (other than
coverage consisting of only dental,
vision, counseling, or referral
services (or a combination thereof),
coverage under a flexible spending
arrangement (as defined in section
106(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986), or coverage of
treatment that is furnished in an
on-site medical facility maintained
by the employer and that consists
primarily of first-aid services,
prevention and wellness care, or
similar care (or a combination
thereof)) or is eligible for
benefits under title XVIII of the
Social Security Act, or
-
(ii)
the earliest of--
-
(I) the date which is 9 months
after the first day of the first
month that paragraph (1)(A)
applies with respect to such
individual,
-
(II) the date following the
expiration of the maximum period
of continuation coverage
required under the applicable
COBRA continuation coverage
provision, or
-
(III) the date following the
expiration of the period of
continuation coverage allowed
under paragraph (4)(B)(ii).
-
(B) TIMING
OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL COVERAGE-
For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), an
individual shall not be treated as
eligible for coverage under a group
health plan before the first date on
which such individual could be covered
under such plan.
-
(C)
NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT- An assistance
eligible individual shall notify in
writing the group health plan with
respect to which paragraph (1)(A)
applies if such paragraph ceases to
apply by reason of subparagraph (A)(i).
Such notice shall be provided to the
group health plan in such time and
manner as may be specified by the
Secretary of Labor.
-
(3) ASSISTANCE
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL- For purposes of this
section, the term `assistance eligible
individual' means any qualified beneficiary
if--
-
(A) at any
time during the period that begins with
September 1, 2008, and ends with
December 31, 2009, such qualified
beneficiary is eligible for COBRA
continuation coverage,
-
(B) such
qualified beneficiary elects such
coverage, and
-
(C) the
qualifying event with respect to the
COBRA continuation coverage consists of
the involuntary termination of the
covered employee's employment and
occurred during such period.
-
(4) EXTENSION
OF ELECTION PERIOD AND EFFECT ON COVERAGE-
-
(A) IN
GENERAL- For purposes of applying
section 605(a) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
section 4980B(f)(5)(A) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, section 2205(a) of
the Public Health Service Act, and
section 8905a(c)(2) of title 5, United
States Code, in the case of an
individual who does not have an election
of COBRA continuation coverage in effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act
but who would be an assistance eligible
individual if such election were so in
effect, such individual may elect the
COBRA continuation coverage under the
COBRA continuation coverage provisions
containing such sections during the
period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act and ending 60 days
after the date on which the notification
required under paragraph (7)(C) is
provided to such individual.
-
(B)
COMMENCEMENT OF COVERAGE; NO REACH-BACK-
Any COBRA continuation coverage elected
by a qualified beneficiary during an
extended election period under
subparagraph (A)--
-
(i)
shall commence with the first period
of coverage beginning on or after
the date of the enactment of this
Act, and
-
(ii)
shall not extend beyond the period
of COBRA continuation coverage that
would have been required under the
applicable COBRA continuation
coverage provision if the coverage
had been elected as required under
such provision.
-
(C)
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS- With respect to
a qualified beneficiary who elects COBRA
continuation coverage pursuant to
subparagraph (A), the period--
-
(i)
beginning on the date of the
qualifying event, and
-
(ii)
ending with the beginning of the
period described in subparagraph (B)(i),
-
shall be
disregarded for purposes of determining
the 63-day periods referred to in
section 701(c)(2) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
section 9801(c)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, and section
2701(c)(2) of the Public Health Service
Act.
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(5) EXPEDITED
REVIEW OF DENIALS OF PREMIUM ASSISTANCE- In
any case in which an individual requests
treatment as an assistance eligible
individual and is denied such treatment by
the group health plan, the Secretary of
Labor (or the Secretary of Health and Human
Services in connection with COBRA
continuation coverage which is provided
other than pursuant to part 6 of subtitle B
of title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974), in consultation with
the Secretary of the Treasury, shall provide
for expedited review of such denial. An
individual shall be entitled to such review
upon application to such Secretary in such
form and manner as shall be provided by such
Secretary. Such Secretary shall make a
determination regarding such individual's
eligibility within 15 business days after
receipt of such individual's application for
review under this paragraph. Either
Secretary's determination upon review of the
denial shall be de novo and shall be the
final determination of such Secretary. A
reviewing court shall grant deference to
such Secretary's determination. The
provisions of this paragraph, paragraphs (1)
through (4), and paragraph (7) shall be
treated as provisions of title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 for purposes of part 5 of subtitle B of
such title.
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(6) DISREGARD
OF SUBSIDIES FOR PURPOSES OF FEDERAL AND
STATE PROGRAMS- Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, any premium reduction with
respect to an assistance eligible individual
under this subsection shall not be
considered income or resources in
determining eligibility for, or the amount
of assistance or benefits provided under,
any other public benefit provided under
Federal law or the law of any State or
political subdivision thereof.
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(7) NOTICES TO
INDIVIDUALS-
-
(A)
GENERAL NOTICE-
-
(i) IN
GENERAL- In the case of notices
provided under section 606(a)(4) of
the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.
1166(4)), section 4980B(f)(6)(D) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
section 2206(4) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300bb-6(4)),
or section 8905a(f)(2)(A) of title
5, United States Code, with respect
to individuals who, during the
period described in paragraph
(3)(A), become entitled to elect
COBRA continuation coverage, the
requirements of such sections shall
not be treated as met unless such
notices include an additional
notification to the recipient of--
-
(I) the availability of premium
reduction with respect to such
coverage under this subsection,
and
-
(II) the option to enroll in
different coverage if the
employer permits assistance
eligible individuals to elect
enrollment in different coverage
(as described in paragraph
(1)(B)).
-
(ii)
ALTERNATIVE NOTICE- In the case of
COBRA continuation coverage to which
the notice provision under such
sections does not apply, the
Secretary of Labor, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, shall, in
consultation with administrators of
the group health plans (or other
entities) that provide or administer
the COBRA continuation coverage
involved, provide rules requiring
the provision of such notice.
-
(iii)
FORM- The requirement of the
additional notification under this
subparagraph may be met by amendment
of existing notice forms or by
inclusion of a separate document
with the notice otherwise required.
-
(B)
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS- Each additional
notification under subparagraph (A)
shall include--
-
(i)
the forms necessary for establishing
eligibility for premium reduction
under this subsection,
-
(ii)
the name, address, and telephone
number necessary to contact the plan
administrator and any other person
maintaining relevant information in
connection with such premium
reduction,
-
(iii)
a description of the extended
election period provided for in
paragraph (4)(A),
-
(iv) a
description of the obligation of the
qualified beneficiary under
paragraph (2)(C) to notify the plan
providing continuation coverage of
eligibility for subsequent coverage
under another group health plan or
eligibility for benefits under title
XVIII of the Social Security Act and
the penalty provided under section
6720C of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 for failure to so notify the
plan,
-
(v) a
description, displayed in a
prominent manner, of the qualified
beneficiary's right to a reduced
premium and any conditions on
entitlement to the reduced premium,
and
-
(vi) a
description of the option of the
qualified beneficiary to enroll in
different coverage if the employer
permits such beneficiary to elect to
enroll in such different coverage
under paragraph (1)(B).
-
(C) NOTICE
IN CONNECTION WITH EXTENDED ELECTION
PERIODS- In the case of any assistance
eligible individual (or any individual
described in paragraph (4)(A)) who
became entitled to elect COBRA
continuation coverage before the date of
the enactment of this Act, the
administrator of the group health plan
(or other entity) involved shall provide
(within 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act) for the
additional notification required to be
provided under subparagraph (A) and
failure to provide such notice shall be
treated as a failure to meet the notice
requirements under the applicable COBRA
continuation provision.
-
(D) MODEL
NOTICES- Not later than 30 days after
the date of enactment of this Act--
-
(i)
the Secretary of the Labor, in
consultation with the Secretary of
the Treasury and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, shall
prescribe models for the additional
notification required under this
paragraph (other than the additional
notification described in clause
(ii)), and
-
(ii)
in the case of any additional
notification provided pursuant to
subparagraph (A) under section
8905a(f)(2)(A) of title 5, United
States Code, the Office of Personnel
Management shall prescribe a model
for such additional notification.
-
(8)
REGULATIONS- The Secretary of the Treasury
may prescribe such regulations or other
guidance as may be necessary or appropriate
to carry out the provisions of this
subsection, including the prevention of
fraud and abuse under this subsection,
except that the Secretary of Labor and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services may
prescribe such regulations (including
interim final regulations) or other guidance
as may be necessary or appropriate to carry
out the provisions of paragraphs (5), (7),
and (9).
-
(9) OUTREACH-
The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with
the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services,
shall provide outreach consisting of public
education and enrollment assistance relating
to premium reduction provided under this
subsection. Such outreach shall target
employers, group health plan administrators,
public assistance programs, States,
insurers, and other entities as determined
appropriate by such Secretaries. Such
outreach shall include an initial focus on
those individuals electing continuation
coverage who are referred to in paragraph
(7)(C). Information on such premium
reduction, including enrollment, shall also
be made available on websites of the
Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health
and Human Services.
-
(10)
DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section--
-
(A)
ADMINISTRATOR- The term `administrator'
has the meaning given such term in
section 3(16)(A) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
-
(B) COBRA
CONTINUATION COVERAGE- The term `COBRA
continuation coverage' means
continuation coverage provided pursuant
to part 6 of subtitle B of title I of
the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (other than under section
609), title XXII of the Public Health
Service Act, section 4980B of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other
than subsection (f)(1) of such section
insofar as it relates to pediatric
vaccines), or section 8905a of title 5,
United States Code, or under a State
program that provides comparable
continuation coverage. Such term does
not include coverage under a health
flexible spending arrangement under a
cafeteria plan within the meaning of
section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
-
(C) COBRA
CONTINUATION PROVISION- The term `COBRA
continuation provision' means the
provisions of law described in
subparagraph (B).
-
(D)
COVERED EMPLOYEE- The term `covered
employee' has the meaning given such
term in section 607(2) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
-
(E)
QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY- The term
`qualified beneficiary' has the meaning
given such term in section 607(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974.
-
(F) GROUP
HEALTH PLAN- The term `group health
plan' has the meaning given such term in
section 607(1) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
-
(G) STATE-
The term `State' includes the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
-
(H) PERIOD
OF COVERAGE- Any reference in this
subsection to a period of coverage shall
be treated as a reference to a monthly
or shorter period of coverage with
respect to which premiums are charged
with respect to such coverage.
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(11) REPORTS-
-
(A)
INTERIM REPORT- The Secretary of the
Treasury shall submit an interim report
to the Committee on Education and Labor,
the Committee on Ways and Means, and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions and the Committee on
Finance of the Senate regarding the
premium reduction provided under this
subsection that includes--
-
(i)
the number of individuals provided
such assistance as of the date of
the report; and
-
(ii)
the total amount of expenditures
incurred (with administrative
expenditures noted separately) in
connection with such assistance as
of the date of the report.
-
(B) FINAL
REPORT- As soon as practicable after the
last period of COBRA continuation
coverage for which premium reduction is
provided under this section, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a
final report to each Committee referred
to in subparagraph (A) that includes--
-
(i)
the number of individuals provided
premium reduction under this
section;
-
(ii)
the average dollar amount (monthly
and annually) of premium reductions
provided to such individuals; and
-
(iii)
the total amount of expenditures
incurred (with administrative
expenditures noted separately) in
connection with premium reduction
under this section.
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(12) COBRA
PREMIUM ASSISTANCE-
-
(A) IN
GENERAL- Subchapter B of chapter 65 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended by this Act, is amended by
adding at the end the following new
section:
`SEC. 6432. COBRA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE.
`(a) In General- The person to whom premiums are payable under COBRA continuation coverage shall be reimbursed as provided in subsection (c) for the amount of premiums not paid by assistance eligible individuals by reason of section 3002(a) of the Health Insurance Assistance for the Unemployed Act of 2009.
-
`(b)
Person Entitled to Reimbursement- For
purposes of subsection (a), except as
otherwise provided by the Secretary, the
person to whom premiums are payable
under COBRA continuation coverage shall
be treated as being--
-
`(1)
in the case of any group health plan
which is a multiemployer plan (as
defined in section 3(37) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974), the plan,
-
`(2)
in the case of any group health plan
not described in paragraph (1)--
-
`(A) which is subject to the
COBRA continuation provisions
contained in--
-
`(i) the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986,
-
`(ii) the Employee
Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974,
-
`(iii) the Public Health
Service Act, or
-
`(iv) title 5, United States
Code, or
-
`(B) under which some or all of
the coverage is not provided by
insurance,
-
the
employer maintaining the plan, and
-
`(3)
in the case of any group health plan
not described in paragraph (1) or
(2), the insurer providing the
coverage under the group health
plan.
-
`(c)
Method of Reimbursement- Except as
otherwise provided by the Secretary--
-
`(1)
TREATMENT AS PAYMENT OF PAYROLL
TAXES- Each person entitled to
reimbursement under subsection (a)
(and filing a claim for such
reimbursement at such time and in
such manner as the Secretary may
require) shall be treated for
purposes of this title and section
1324(b)(2) of title 31, United
States Code, as having paid to the
Secretary, on the date that the
assistance eligible individual's
premium payment is received, payroll
taxes in an amount equal to the
portion of such reimbursement which
relates to such premium. To the
extent that the amount treated as
paid under the preceding sentence
exceeds the amount of such person's
liability for such taxes, the
Secretary shall credit or refund
such excess in the same manner as if
it were an overpayment of such
taxes.
-
`(2)
OVERSTATEMENTS- Any overstatement of
the reimbursement to which a person
is entitled under this section (and
any amount paid by the Secretary as
a result of such overstatement)
shall be treated as an underpayment
of payroll taxes by such person and
may be assessed and collected by the
Secretary in the same manner as
payroll taxes.
-
`(3)
REIMBURSEMENT CONTINGENT ON PAYMENT
OF REMAINING PREMIUM- No
reimbursement may be made under this
section to a person with respect to
any assistance eligible individual
until after the reduced premium
required under section 3002(a)(1)(A)
of such Act with respect to such
individual has been received.
-
`(d)
Definitions- For purposes of this
section--
-
`(1)
PAYROLL TAXES- The term `payroll
taxes' means--
-
`(A) amounts required to be
deducted and withheld for the
payroll period under section
3402 (relating to wage
withholding),
-
`(B) amounts required to be
deducted for the payroll period
under section 3102 (relating to
FICA employee taxes), and
-
`(C) amounts of the taxes
imposed for the payroll period
under section 3111 (relating to
FICA employer taxes).
-
`(2)
PERSON- The term `person' includes
any governmental entity.
-
`(e)
Reporting- Each person entitled to
reimbursement under subsection (a) for
any period shall submit such reports (at
such time and in such manner) as the
Secretary may require, including--
-
`(1)
an attestation of involuntary
termination of employment for each
covered employee on the basis of
whose termination entitlement to
reimbursement is claimed under
subsection (a),
-
`(2) a
report of the amount of payroll
taxes offset under subsection (a)
for the reporting period and the
estimated offsets of such taxes for
the subsequent reporting period in
connection with reimbursements under
subsection (a), and
-
`(3) a
report containing the TINs of all
covered employees, the amount of
subsidy reimbursed with respect to
each covered employee and qualified
beneficiaries, and a designation
with respect to each covered
employee as to whether the subsidy
reimbursement is for coverage of 1
individual or 2 or more individuals.
-
`(f)
Regulations- The Secretary shall issue
such regulations or other guidance as
may be necessary or appropriate to carry
out this section, including--
-
`(1)
the requirement to report
information or the establishment of
other methods for verifying the
correct amounts of reimbursements
under this section, and
-
`(2)
the application of this section to
group health plans that are
multiemployer plans (as defined in
section 3(37) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of
1974).'.
-
(B) SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS
HELD HARMLESS- In determining
any amount transferred or
appropriated to any fund under
the Social Security Act, section
6432 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 shall not be taken
into account.
-
(C) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The
table of sections for subchapter
B of chapter 65 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended
by adding at the end the
following new item:
-
`Sec.
6432. COBRA premium assistance.'.
-
(D) EFFECTIVE DATE- The
amendments made by this
paragraph shall apply to
premiums to which subsection
(a)(1)(A) applies.
-
(E) SPECIAL RULE-
-
(i) IN GENERAL- In the case
of an assistance eligible
individual who pays, with
respect to the first period
of COBRA continuation
coverage to which subsection
(a)(1)(A) applies or the
immediately subsequent
period, the full premium
amount for such coverage,
the person to whom such
payment is payable shall--
-
(I) make a reimbursement
payment to such
individual for the
amount of such premium
paid in excess of the
amount required to be
paid under subsection
(a)(1)(A); or
-
(II) provide credit to
the individual for such
amount in a manner that
reduces one or more
subsequent premium
payments that the
individual is required
to pay under such
subsection for the
coverage involved.
-
(ii) REIMBURSING EMPLOYER- A
person to which clause (i)
applies shall be reimbursed
as provided for in section
6432 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 for any payment
made, or credit provided, to
the employee under such
clause.
-
(iii) PAYMENT OR CREDITS-
Unless it is reasonable to
believe that the credit for
the excess payment in clause
(i)(II) will be used by the
assistance eligible
individual within 180 days
of the date on which the
person receives from the
individual the payment of
the full premium amount, a
person to which clause (i)
applies shall make the
payment required under such
clause to the individual
within 60 days of such
payment of the full premium
amount. If, as of any day
within the 180-day period,
it is no longer reasonable
to believe that the credit
will be used during that
period, payment equal to the
remainder of the credit
outstanding shall be made to
the individual within 60
days of such day.
-
(13)
PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY HEALTH
PLAN OF CESSATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR
PREMIUM ASSISTANCE-
-
(A) IN GENERAL- Part I of
subchapter B of chapter 68 of
the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
`SEC. 6720C. PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY HEALTH PLAN OF CESSATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR COBRA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE.
-
`(a) In
General- Any person required to notify a
group health plan under section
3002(a)(2)(C)) of the Health Insurance
Assistance for the Unemployed Act of
2009 who fails to make such a
notification at such time and in such
manner as the Secretary of Labor may
require shall pay a penalty of 110
percent of the premium reduction
provided under such section after
termination of eligibility under such
subsection.
-
`(b)
Reasonable Cause Exception- No penalty
shall be imposed under subsection (a)
with respect to any failure if it is
shown that such failure is due to
reasonable cause and not to willful
neglect.'.
-
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The
table of sections of part I of
subchapter B of chapter 68 of
such Code is amended by adding
at the end the following new
item:
-
`Sec.
6720C. Penalty for failure to notify
health plan of cessation of
eligibility for COBRA premium
assistance.'.
-
(C) EFFECTIVE DATE- The
amendments made by this
paragraph shall apply to
failures occurring after the
date of the enactment of this
Act.
-
(14)
COORDINATION WITH HCTC-
-
(A) IN GENERAL- Subsection (g)
of section 35 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended
by redesignating paragraph (9)
as paragraph (10) and inserting
after paragraph (8) the
following new paragraph:
-
`(9)
COBRA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE- In the
case of an assistance eligible
individual who receives premium
reduction for COBRA continuation
coverage under section 3002(a) of
the Health Insurance Assistance for
the Unemployed Act of 2009 for any
month during the taxable year, such
individual shall not be treated as
an eligible individual, a certified
individual, or a qualifying family
member for purposes of this section
or section 7527 with respect to such
month.'.
-
(B) EFFECTIVE DATE- The
amendment made by subparagraph
(A) shall apply to taxable years
ending after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
-
(15)
EXCLUSION OF COBRA PREMIUM
ASSISTANCE FROM GROSS INCOME-
-
(A) IN GENERAL- Part III of
subchapter B of chapter 1 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by inserting after
section 139B the following new
section:
`SEC. 139C. COBRA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE.
-
`In the
case of an assistance eligible
individual (as defined in section 3002
of the Health Insurance Assistance for
the Unemployed Act of 2009), gross
income does not include any premium
reduction provided under subsection (a)
of such section.'.
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(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The
table of sections for part III
of subchapter B of chapter 1 of
such Code is amended by
inserting after the item
relating to section 139B the
following new item:
`Sec. 139C. COBRA premium assistance.'.
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(C) EFFECTIVE DATE- The
amendments made by this
paragraph shall apply to taxable
years ending after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
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(b)
Elimination of Premium Subsidy for
High-Income Individuals-
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(1)
RECAPTURE OF SUBSIDY FOR HIGH-INCOME
INDIVIDUALS- If--
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(A) premium assistance is
provided under this section with
respect to any COBRA
continuation coverage which
covers the taxpayer, the
taxpayer's spouse, or any
dependent (within the meaning of
section 152 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, determined
without regard to subsections
(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)
thereof) of the taxpayer during
any portion of the taxable year,
and
-
(B) the taxpayer's modified
adjusted gross income for such
taxable year exceeds $125,000
($250,000 in the case of a joint
return),
-
then
the tax imposed by chapter 1 of such
Code with respect to the taxpayer
for such taxable year shall be
increased by the amount of such
assistance.
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(2)
PHASE-IN OF RECAPTURE-
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(A) IN GENERAL- In the case of a
taxpayer whose modified adjusted
gross income for the taxable
year does not exceed $145,000
($290,000 in the case of a joint
return), the increase in the tax
imposed under paragraph (1)
shall not exceed the phase-in
percentage of such increase
(determined without regard to
this paragraph).
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(B) PHASE-IN PERCENTAGE- For
purposes of this subsection, the
term `phase-in percentage' means
the ratio (expressed as a
percentage) obtained by
dividing--
-
(i) the excess of described
in subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (1), by
-
(ii) $20,000 ($40,000 in the
case of a joint return).
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(3)
OPTION FOR HIGH-INCOME INDIVIDUALS
TO WAIVE ASSISTANCE AND AVOID
RECAPTURE- Notwithstanding
subsection (a)(3), an individual
shall not be treated as an
assistance eligible individual for
purposes of this section and section
6432 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 if such individual--
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(A) makes a permanent election
(at such time and in such form
and manner as the Secretary of
the Treasury may prescribe) to
waive the right to the premium
assistance provided under this
section, and
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(B) notifies the entity to whom
premiums are reimbursed under
section 6432(a) of such Code of
such election.
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(4)
MODIFIED ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME- For
purposes of this subsection, the
term `modified adjusted gross
income' means the adjusted gross
income (as defined in section 62 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)
of the taxpayer for the taxable year
increased by any amount excluded
from gross income under section 911,
931, or 933 of such Code.
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(5)
CREDITS NOT ALLOWED AGAINST TAX,
ETC- For purposes determining
regular tax liability under section
26(b) of such Code, the increase in
tax under this subsection shall not
be treated as a tax imposed under
chapter 1 of such Code.
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(6)
REGULATIONS- The Secretary of the
Treasury shall issue such
regulations or other guidance as are
necessary or appropriate to carry
out this subsection, including
requirements that the entity to whom
premiums are reimbursed under
section 6432(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 report to the
Secretary, and to each assistance
eligible individual, the amount of
premium assistance provided under
subsection (a) with respect to each
such individual.
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(7)
EFFECTIVE DATE- The provisions of
this subsection shall apply to
taxable years ending after the date
of the enactment of this Act.