U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Additional 31 employers and unions in Wisconsin will receive help providing health coverage to early retirees and their families

Contact: HHS Press Office

(202) 690-6343

Nearly 3,600 employers and unions approved to participate in the Affordable Care Act’s Early Retiree Reinsurance Program nationwide; applications still being accepted

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released a list of additional employers and unions accepted into the Affordable Care Act’s Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, including 31 in Wisconsin. Nationwide, nearly 700 additional large and small businesses, State and local governments, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and unions have been accepted into the program, which reimburses employers for a portion of the cost of health benefits for early retirees’ and their families. Today’s announcement brings the total number of organizations participating in the program to nearly 3,600 nationwide and 121 in Wisconsin.

“By helping employers and unions continue to offer coverage for early retirees, we’re helping them compete — while providing a measure of certainty and security for their former workers at a time when it could not be more important, “said Secretary Sebelius. “The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program seeks to shore up the financial foothold for employers and unions who want to provide coverage to their retirees.”

Created by the Affordable Care Act as another bridge to the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014, the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program provides $5 billion in financial assistance to employers and unions, to help them maintain coverage for early retirees ages 55 and older who are not yet eligible for Medicare. Businesses and other employers and unions that are accepted into the program will receive reimbursement for a portion of the costs of health benefits for their early retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents. Savings may be used to reduce employer or union health care costs, provide premium or out-of-pocket relief to workers, retirees, and their families, or both. The program ends on January 1, 2014, when the State-based health insurance Exchanges will be up and running.

HHS’s Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight has approved nearly 3,600 employer and union plans, representing a broad range of employers and unions from all 50 States and the District of Columbia, for participation in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, with more applications being reviewed every day.

The following Wisconsin organizations have been approved to date, including 31 new organizations.

* Alaska Carpenters Health & Welfare Trust Fund
* Appleton Papers Inc.
* Bay Area Medical Center
* Board of School Directors – Milwaukee Public Schools
* Board of Trustees – Milwaukee Painters Local Union
* Board of Trustees – Wisconsin Laborers Health Fund
* Board of Trustees of Plumbers Local 75 Health Fund
* BOT OF LOCAL UNIONS NO. 19 & 127 HEALTH & WELFARE
* BOT OF THE WISCONSIN PIPE TRADES HEALTH FUND
* Briggs & Stratton Corporation*
* Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group, LLC
* Brillion Iron Works, Inc
* Brown County*
* Calumet County
* Case New Holland Inc.
* City of Antigo
* City of Appleton*
* City of DePere
* City of Green Bay
* City of La Crosse*
* City of Neenah
* City of Platteville
* City of Waukesha
* City of Wauwatosa
* City of West Allis
* City of Wisconsin Rapids
* County of Adams
* County of Dane
* County of La Crosse*
* County of Marinette
* County of Milwaukee
* County of Outagamie
* County of Waupaca*
* CUNA Mutual Insurance Society
* D.C. Everest Area School District
* Dean Health Systems, Inc.*
* Evansville Community School District *
* Foley & Lardner, LLP
* Fond du Lac County*
* Fox Valley Sheet Metal Health Plan
* Fox Valley Technical College*
* Gehl Company
* Grant County Wl*
* Great Northern Corporation
* Green Bay Area Public School District
* Green Bay Packaging Inc.*
* H G Weber and Company, Inc.
* Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
* InSinkErator Division Emerson Electric Co
* Iron Workers Local No 8 Welfare Fund
* Ironworkers Local 383 Health Care Plan
* Johnson Controls, Inc.
* Jones Dairy Farm
* Journal Communications, Inc.
* Kenosha Building & Construction Trades Welfare Fund
* Kewaunee County*
* Kimberly Area School District
* Kimberly-Clark Corporation
* Local Unions No. 19 & 127 Health & Welfare
* Madison Area Construction Employees Trust – Health & Welfare*
* Madison Area Technical College
* Madison Gas and Electric Company
* Manitowoc County
* Manpower Inc
* Marshall & llsley Corporation
* Master Lock Company
* Mercy Health System Corporation*
* Meriter Health Services
* Middletown Works Hourly and Salaried Union Retiree
* Mid-State Technical College District
* Milwaukee Area Technical College
* Milwaukee Carpenters District Council Health Fund
* Milwaukee Drivers Health & Welfare Trust Fund
* Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage-District
* Milwaukee Roofers Health Fund
* Mosinee Schools*
* North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters
* Northcentral Technical College
* Northeast Wisconsin Technical College*
* Northwestern Mutual Life Ins Co
* Operating Engineers Local 169 Health Benefit Fund
* Oregon School District*
* Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 400
* Portage Community Schools
* ProHealth Care, Inc.
* Racine County
* Racine Unified School District
* Rexnord LLC
* Richardson Industries, Inc.
* Rockwell Automation, Inc.
* S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc
* School District of Lake Holcombe*
* School District of Marshfield*
* School District of Poynette
* Sentry Insurance, a Mutual Company
* Snap-on Incorporated
* Southwestern Wisconsin Community School District*
* St. Marys Dean Ventures, Inc.*
* Stevens Point Area Public Schools*
* Strattec SecurityCorporation
* Sun Prairie Area School District*
* ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, Inc.
* Unified School District of Antigo
* Verona Area School District*
* Viroqua Area School District*
* WAICU Benefits Consortium, Inc*
* Washington County
* Waukesha County Area Technical College District
* Wausau Paper Corp.
* Wausau School District*
* Webcrafters, Inc.
* WELS Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association
* West Bend Joint School District #1*
* Wipfli LLP
* Wisconsin Education Association Insurance Trust
* Wisconsin Electric Power Company
* Wisconsin Health Fund
* Wisconsin Pipe Trades Health Fund
* Wisconsin Retirement System*
* Wisconsin Sheet Metal Health & Welfare
* Wood County *

*Indicates newly approved applicant.

HHS has set up a website, http://www.ERRP.gov, where sponsors can begin submitting information today to qualify early retirees, spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents for claims reimbursements.

Employers and unions interested in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program should visit http://www.ERRP.gov or call 1-877-574-3777 or 877-574-ERRP. Employers and unions can find the application form and application instructions, as well as other relevant guidance and regulations from HHS, online.

More information about the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, a full alphabetical list of participants, and an interactive map displaying participants by state is available online. This list is updated regularly. To find this information, please visit:

http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/early_retiree_reinsurance_program.html.

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