Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4851) into law. The bill, which passed the U.S. Senate by a 59-38 vote and the U.S. House of Representatives by a 289-112 vote yesterday, extends the original federal COBRA subsidy created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The new legislation extends the subsidy to individuals who are involuntarily terminated between April 1, 2010, and May 31, 2010. Since the last COBRA subsidy extension period ended March 31, 2010, this extension applies retroactively. Congress is also considering legislation that would further extend the COBRA subsidy to the end of the year.
i am an unemployed nurse and was let go in feb 2009 for failure by my employer to find another job due to wt. lifting restrictions. i have been on cobra since then and paying full price even though i did pay subsidy coupons for a short time i do qualify for subisdy but have been paying full price since jan of this year. didnt the president sign into law an extension of cobra benefits for the unemployed . i am not receiving unemployement pay due to a one sided hearing (for the hospital) conducted in august of last year. what can i do. I cannot pay for private insurance and they will not insure me due to my age and medical condition. I am 48 and have asthma.
Had it not been for the Cobra subsidy I do not know what I would have done. I have not been employed since April 2009. I have been blessed to keep my insurance through Cobra since this time with the reduction of premium. At over $900.00 a month there is no way I could have afforded it. But paying only a portion of it has enabled me to keep my medication and my doctors. I owe my life to President Obama and those who passed this bill. I barely make in long term disability what it would have cost to pay the full amount. Next month, with out an additional subsidy, I may have to drop my coverage because I can not afford it. I am so scared. I have several severe health problems, high blood pressuse, fybromyalogy, Spinal Cord Stimulator, depression, etc that would adversly be effect without my ability to seek medical attention and prescriptions. I would lobe to volunteer to testify before the House and Senate on how losing this subsidy would effect mine and many others lives.
Fearful in Indiana,
Teresa
Have they decided whether or not they will be extending COBRA subsidy? I am being laid off and others have too with the premiums being so outrageous.
Any info would greatly be appreciated.
Thank you.