COBRA Subsidy Extension

Recipients hail Cobra subsidy extension, By Victoria Colliver, December 22, 2009, San Francisco Chronicle: “Christmas came a little early for unemployed people who’ve put health insurance at the top of their wish list. Congress, under pressure to provide additional help for people who have lost their jobs and health benefits, passed legislation to extend federal subsidies to help people pay for their former employer’s health insurance. Lawmakers also agreed to extend the eligibility period to sign up for assistance. As part of the stimulus bill passed in February, the federal government subsidized 65 percent of the cost for unemployed people who opted to continue their employer’s health insurance coverage. A person can pay to stay on his or her former employer’s group policy – generally for a maximum of 18 months – through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a federal law better known as Cobra…”