Cal COBRA AB 23 (collecting, extension, receive, federal)

[sweetheart1311]

I've been trying to find out if this bill has been extended past Feb 28th 2010? I am talking about the one where the government pays 65 % of the COBRA premiums, and you pay 35 % of it. Last I heard it was extended to Feb 28th... but what about now?

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by sweetheart1311

I've been trying to find out if this bill has been extended past Feb 28th 2010? I am talking about the one where the government pays 65 % of the COBRA premiums, and you pay 35 % of it. Last I heard it was extended to Feb 28th... but what about now?

Don't know about Cal COBRA AB 23.

But the COBRA premium subsidy, which is governed by federal law, provides a 65% subsidy on COBRA premiums for those who were involuntarily terminated. The former employee pays 35%; the former employer pays 65% and receives a federal tax credit for his contribution.

The cut-off date for eligibility for the COBRA premium subsidy was extended to March 31, 2010, from February 28, 2010. That means that you must have been involuntarily terminated no later than March 31 to be eligible.

The maximum length of standard COBRA coverage remains the same: 18 months, no extension. The maximum length of the COBRA subsidy remains the same: 15 months, no extension.

The extension did not affect anyone already collecting the subsidy.

COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009 (http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html - broken link)

[sweetheart1311]

Great info, thank you!

[sweetheart1311]

Has this been extended until April 30th now?

[sweetheart1311]

Just found this: Again! Obama wants second COBRA subsidy extension | HR Morning | Your daily dose of HR

I guess it's been extended until Dec 31st 2010.

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by sweetheart1311

Just found this: Again! Obama wants second COBRA subsidy extension | HR Morning | Your daily dose of HR

I guess it's been extended until Dec 31st 2010.

The link you've posted is from February.

In fact, a second COBRA premium subsidy extension -- to run through December 31, 2010, and to provide 15 months of subsidy -- was attached as an amendment to HR 4213 last month (along with extensions in the cut-off dates for the EUC Tiers).

Unfortunately, HR 4213 is stuck in the House. Because of the delays with the House amendments to HR 4213, on Tuesday (March 16) Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee Sander Levin (D-Mich) introduced a separate temporary bill to extend the cut-off dates of the EUC Tiers and other unemployment benefits through May 5, 2010; the same measure would extend the cut-off date for the COBRA premium subsidy through April 30, 2010.

[sweetheart1311]

Originally Posted by diorgirl

Because of the delays with the House amendments to HR 4213, on Tuesday (March 16) Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee Sander Levin (D-Mich) introduced a separate temporary bill to extend the cut-off dates of the EUC Tiers and other unemployment benefits through May 5, 2010; the same measure would extend the cut-off date for the COBRA premium subsidy through April 30, 2010.

So was this bill passed or just 'suggested'? I'm sorry I am so clueless about all of this...

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by sweetheart1311

So was this bill passed or just 'suggested'? I'm sorry I am so clueless about all of this...

Nothing has yet been passed to extend the COBRA premium subsidy cut-off date from March 31, 2010 (this is the cut-off date created by the last "temporary" bill passed earlier this month that extended the EUC Tier cut-off dates to April 5, 2010).