A subsidy to help unemployed workers defray premium costs under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is beginning to expire.
The stimulus bill passed in February included a 65% subsidy on premiums that newly laid off workers could receive for up to nine months. Workers that exercised that option on March 1 saw their subsidies expire today.
Bills to extend the COBRA premium have been introduced to both houses but are still stuck in committee. Sponsored by Rep. Joe Sestak, (D-Penn), the Extended COBRA Continuation Protection Act of 2009 (
Under consideration by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009 (