Report: COBRA Might Be Out of Reach Without Subsidies
Many families might be unable to afford COBRA coverage without an extension of federal subsidies to purchase the coverage, according to a new study from Families USA. Last week, House Democratic leaders secured the passage of a so-called "extenders" bill partly by eliminating a provision that would have extended COBRA subsidies. Without the extension, Families USA estimates that unemployed workers would have to spend an average of 84.3% of their monthly unemployment insurance checks on COBRA premiums.
- "Failure To Extend COBRA Subsidies Could Hurt Many Families, Report Says" (Simmons, HealthLeaders Media, 6/7).