The Obama administration has rolled out the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, an important new temporary program created in the health care reform law and designed to assist employers that provide health insurance for retirees between the ages of 55-64.

The $5 billion fund will be used to reimburse employers for catastrophic health care expenses incurred by early retirees after June 1, 2010. In order to be eligible for reimbursement, employers will need to be pre-approved. IAFF affiliates with early retiree coverage should encourage their employers to submit an application to participate in this valuable program. Applications will be available in June.

For more information about this important new benefit, click here.