COBRA Insurance Information Advocates
Friday, February 26
COBRA extension soon in place...
Today the House of Representatives approved an extension of 31-days to the COBRA subsidy program. This means those being terminated after February 28th will have the subsidy available until the 31st of March, if approved by the Senate as well. As of this moment the Senate has not passed its version of the extension H.R. 1586.
House approves stopgap COBRA subsidy extension
House approves stopgap COBRA subsidy extension
Labels: COBRA, cobra subsidy, Insurance, unemployment
¶ 2:08 PM
Thursday, February 25
New Jobs Bill: Addressing COBRA subsidy
Day by day the deadline approaches to when the COBRA premium subsidy is set to expire (February 28th, 2010). After being striped from a planned legislation proposal as part of the Patriot Act extension, a new jobs bill has been drafted. The bill would extend COBRA premium subsidies for another 10 months for those who were involuntarily terminated from their employer. Failure to extend the deadline, would mean that those laid off after March 1st would not be eligible for COBRA subsidy entitlements.
The new jobs bill will also allot more time to business owners to fulfill pension plan obligations.
Labels: COBRA, cobra subsidy, Insurance, unemployed, unemployment
¶ 12:53 PM
Wednesday, February 24
Reid Pushing for COBRA extension and more...
In similar reports Majority leader Henry Reid (D) has planned extensions for the COBRA subsidy. As details continue to be known, it looks as if Reid will be proposing a plan that will allow for a 30-day extensions of the COBRA subsidy, parts of the Patriot Act, and prevention of cuts in the Medicaid program.
Being called a "stopgap" measure, the subsidy is set to expire February 28. Cutting it very close to the deadline has already proven costly. With the date approaching many unemployment agencies have begun sending out letters that are addressing the issue.
Labels: COBRA, cobra subsidy, Insurance, unemployment
¶ 11:48 AM
Tuesday, February 23
COBRA Subsidy Extension Outlook: 15- to 30-Days
The COBRA subsidy has brought some form of stability to those laid off. While still struggling, it has enabled those who were laid off between September 1st, 2008, and December 31, 2009, to afford health insurance. About a year ago, as part of the economic stimulus bill, it allowed for those who had lost their job to receive a subsidy that would pay 65% of their premium.
While introducing legislature is much different than actually passing it, many top level democratic politicians are preparing to begin the process as early as tonight. While it most likely will not be seen as a permanent fix, it will be in the range of a 15- to 30-day extension of what is currently in place. The current subsidy is due to expire the 28th of February and many unemployment offices have already begun sending out notice letters.
Labels: COBRA, cobra subsidy, Insurance, unemployed
¶ 4:11 PM
COBRA Subsidy Set to Expire; Extension Not Seen as a Fix
Senate Majority Leader Henry Reid plans to address expiring unemployment benefits by extending a COBRA subsidy by two weeks. While those being unemployed see this as added time to finding alternative options, if still jobless by the end of the time period, unemployment office are urging a more longer extension. Seeing as benefits are processed on a weekly basis, that 15th day is foreseen as a serious conundrum to workers. Many offices have already begun sending out letters and without a more lengthy extension the plan is really being seen more of a hindrance than a help.
Labels: COBRA, Insurance, unemployment
¶ 12:51 PM
