Michelle’s Law has been effective since October 9, 2009. This law extends the healthcare coverage for one year for a dependent child who needs a medically necessary leave of absence while attending college or another post-secondary educational institution. The leave of absence must be medically necessary; commence while the child is suffering from a serious illness or injury; and, cause the child to lose coverage under the plan.

Change to Pennsylvania Medical Coverage Law

The mini-COBRA law went into effect on July 10, 2009, and since that time small businesses with more than one but less than 20 employees must offer continuation of coverage benefits to their employees if their employment or eligibility is terminated due to a qualifying event. A qualifying event is an event that would result in the loss of health coverage for the covered employee or eligible dependents, including the following:

(i) termination of employment (either voluntarily or involuntarily if not due to gross misconduct);
(ii) death of the covered employee;
(iii) reduction in hours of employment which renders the employee ineligible to participate in the group health coverage;
(iv) divorce or legal separation;
(v) a dependent child becomes ineligible to participate in the group health coverage because he or she fails to meet the overage criteria.

The qualifying event may occur before the effective date, July 10, 2009, but if the employee or dependent does not lose group health coverage until on or after July 10, 2009, the eligibility for Mini-COBRA coverage exists.

If you would like more information about Pennsylvania Elder Law, Business Law or Tax Law, please contact an experienced Pennsylvania Attorney who is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) via email or phone us at (724) 216.6551 at our Greensburg, Pennsylvania office.

The Iezzi Law Office serves clients in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Greensburg, Pittsburgh, Delmont, Monroeville, Murrysville, Latrobe, Irwin, Uniontown, Connellsville, Indiana, Somerset, and other towns located in Westmoreland County, Allegheny County, Fayette County, Indiana County, and Somerset County.

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To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.