Q: As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a COBRA subsidy plan was enacted to reduce the COBRA premiums for up to nine months for unemployed workers laid off between September 2008 and

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Q: As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a COBRA subsidy plan was enacted to reduce the COBRA premiums for up to nine months for unemployed workers laid off between September 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009. Has this subsidy plan been extended, or is there any discussion in Congress to do so?

— Susan Wilkes, Atlanta

A: A few bills introduced this fall propose an extension of the COBRA subsidy.

Senate Bill S.2730, introduced in early November by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.), would increase the subsidy period by six months.

The subsidy amount also would grow from 65 percent to 75 percent of the workers’ premium.

It also proposes including workers whose hours are reduced enough where they are no longer eligible for employer-sponsored health benefits and extends the time period where workers can become eligible for the subsidy to June 30.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

House Bill H.R. 3930, sponsored by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) would extend the subsidy for another six months; it is in a House committee.

Also in a House committee is House Bill H.R. 3966, sponsored by Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), which also seeks to add six months to the subsidy.

Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail
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