What are the details of the most recent extensions to the COBRA premium subsidy law?
In late December, President Obama signed into law a military spending bill that extends eligibility for the COBRA premium subsidy. Specifically, the law extends the subsidy by six months to 15 months. In addition, that law extended the subsidy to employees laid off through Feb. 28, 2010. Without the extension, employees laid off after Dec. 31, 2009, would not have been entitled to the subsidy. The new law also requires employers to notify COBRA beneficiaries of the extension. Since then, Congress has passed two more short-term extensions, with the latest one extending the subsidy to employees laid off through May 31.
