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DOL updates CHIP Notice model ahead of employer open enrollment
The revised state list is current as of July 31 and applies to future notice distributions, while employers already sent the current plan year version generally do not need to reissue it.
The US Department of Labor released an updated model notice for the federally mandated Premium Assistance Under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as the CHIP Notice, ahead of the upcoming open enrollment season.
Insurance Business reports the update, issued by the DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration, reflects changes in state program availability as of July 31. The revised model does not require employers to reissue the notice to employees who already received the current plan year version, but it should be used for any future distributions including new hire onboarding, special enrollment events, and open enrollment packets.
The CHIP Notice is required annually for employers that offer a group health plan in states where Medicaid or CHIP premium assistance is available, and it must be delivered free of charge. The notice model carries a stated expiration date of May 31, 2029, and EBSA typically updates the model twice per year, signaling another revision could come before then.
For employers and benefits brokers, the practical takeaway is to replace any stored CHIP Notice templates with the updated version for materials not yet distributed. The DOL also allows electronic delivery where employees have regular work-related computer access or have consented to electronic delivery, and the CHIP Notice can be included with other annual compliance materials as long as it is visually separated.