Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol

Wisconsin businesses can sign up for federal assistance to help pay early retirement benefits.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set up the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, a $5 billion temporary reinsurance program for employer-based health plans that cover retirees between the ages of 55 to 64.

“This reinsurance program is among the first opportunities for relief for employers facing health care cost increases for their retiree benefits,” Governor JIm Doyle said in a statement. “Employers can continue offering coverage to their retired employees with the help of these funds. This is just one part of the national health care reform package that will help more people and businesses in Wisconsin have access to affordable health care coverage.”

The program will reimburse 80% of annual health care costs between $15,000 and $90,000 for each eligible retiree and for each spouse, surviving spouse, or dependent of an eligible retiree. Under the program, early retiree expenses incurred on or after June 1, 2010 are eligible for reimbursement under the program. In order to qualify for the plan, sponsors must submit a complete application to DHHS. Sponsors must also submit documentation of actual health care benefits in order to receive reimbursement.

Funding runs through 2014, or until the account is empty.

Applications for the program, as well as fact sheets and application assistance can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/ociio