COBRA Subsidy Extended Through May 31, 2010

The 65% COBRA Federal Premium Assistance has been extended once again. The last extension covered involuntary terminations through March 31, 2010. On April 15 the President signed H.R. 4851 extending several government programs including unemployment benefits. The COBRA subsidy will now cover qualified individuals who are involuntarily terminated on or before May 31, 2010.

The U.S. Department of Labor has updated its Fact Sheet on the COBRA Premium Reduction. There is also additional information regarding eligibility of terminations from March 2, 2010 through May 31, 2010 which followed a reduction in hours: 

•   March 2, 2010 through May 31, 2010 if:

o        the involuntary termination follows a qualifying event that was a reduction of hours; and

o        the reduction of hours occurred at any time from September 1, 2008 through May 31, 2010 (a reduction of hours is a qualifying event when the employee and his/her family lose coverage because the employee, though still employed, is no longer working enough hours to satisfy the group health plan’s eligibility requirements).  

COBRA premium assistance continues to be limited to 15 months as provided in the first extension and ends upon eligibility for other coverage. For additional information you may want to check out another page on the DOL’s website that includes video messages and other FAQs.