By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor

Many of the unemployed count on the COBRA subsidy that was created as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and signed into law in February 2009 to be able to continue to provide health care coverage for their family.  However this subsidy has begun to run out for many job seekers.  This means if existing coverage is continued health insurance bills could go up as much as three times what job seekers have currently been paying.

There are bills that have been introduced to address an extension for the COBRA subsidy in the House of Representatives and the Senate, including House Bill HR 3930(2) and 3966(3) and Senate Bill S. 2730(4) but as of this blog posting neither have been enacted.

Senate Bill S. 2730(4): Extends the maximum COBRA continuation coverage period for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between April 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009 for 6 months. It also adds a new 75% COBRA subsidy for the newly unemployed that became unemployed between 1/01/2010 through 06/2010. The COBRA subsidy is extended from 9 months to 15 months and a reduction in hours from full-time to part-time becomes a COBRA-qualifying event.  About.com Human Resources, What’s Up With the COBRA Subsidy?

House Bill HR 3930(2): COBRA is extended from 18 months to 24 months. Current subsidies receive a 6 month extension and a 65% COBRA subsidy is extended through 1/06/2010. About.com Human Resources, What’s Up With the COBRA Subsidy?

How do you know when COBRA will run out for you and your family?  CNN recently posted an article on a widget that eHealthInsurance created to help job seekers understand exactly where they stand.  The widget is available in the following locations:

• Media Center
• Widgetbox.com

Other Helpful Information:

GovTrack.us:

A tool created by Civic Impulse, LLC to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress allows you to follow COBRA bill activity. CNN COBRA Subsidy Extension?: eHealthInsurance Launches COBRA Subsidy Widget to Calculate Expiration Dates

United States Department of Labor:

FAQs For Employees About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage.  Information on the COBRA Premium Subsidy is on www.dol.gov/COBRA

COBRA Learning Center:

Consumers can visit eHealthInsurance’s COBRA Learning Center for detailed videos and FAQs on COBRA and the original COBRA subsidy.  CNN COBRA Subsidy Extension?: eHealthInsurance Launches COBRA Subsidy Widget to Calculate Expiration Dates

eHealthInsurance Answers the “What If…?”:

An online source of health insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, has released an updated set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for individuals and families whose access to the COBRA subsidy is scheduled to end after November 30, 2009.

• Previous Entry: Job Search Tips: How to Respond to Posted Jobs
• Next Entry: Career Assessment: Starting Your Own Business, Part 5