COBRA Alive in Senate

An extension for subsidies for those receiving insurance coverage under the auspices of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is in the works according to published reports.

According to the Washington Post, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D. – Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R.-Ky.) were are discussing another extension of COBRA benefits for laid off workers. When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ff 2009 passed, it provided a 65% subsidy on COBRA premiums for nine months for unemployed workers.

The premium subsidy was later extended to 15 months as part of bill appropriating funds for the Department of Defense. That extension also bumped back the deadline for applying for the subsidy until Feb. 28, 2010. The bill Reid is said to be currently working on may push the deadline back to March 15 or later.