Updated CHIP Notice Model Released by U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued an updated model Employer CHIP Notice reflecting information as of March 17, 2025.

What Employers Need to Know

Under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), employers offering group health coverage must provide an annual notice to employees residing in states that offer premium assistance through Medicaid or CHIP. This notice informs eligible employees about the availability of financial help for children’s health insurance coverage.

When and How to Distribute the Notice

Employers have flexibility in how they deliver this notice. It can be provided on its own or included alongside:

• Eligibility communications for the group health plan;
• Materials distributed during open enrollment or plan elections; or
• The summary plan description (SPD).

Who Must Comply

Any employer sponsoring a group health plan is required to provide the notice if even one employee covered under the plan lives in a state that offers CHIP premium assistance. This applies regardless of where the employer is physically located.

Using the DOL’s Model Notice

The Department of Labor provides a model notice that employers can use or adapt to assist with compliance. This notice is periodically updated to reflect which states offer premium assistance. The latest version incorporates updates as of mid-March 2025. While employers may customize or draft their own version of the notice, it’s important to include up-to-date contact information for relevant state programs to ensure compliance.