Excerpt: The Department of Health and Human Services announced that the $5 billion reinsurance program for early retirees mandated by the new health care reform law will become effective on June 23, 2010. In June, under a process similar to that used by the Retiree Drug Subsidy program, employer-sponsored plans will be able to submit an application to participate in the reinsurance program. Established as a temporary arrangement, the reinsurance program is slated to end on January 1, 2014, when early retirees will be able to obtain health coverage through the exchanges.