Widely Used Federal Subsidies for Unemployed May Have Ended for Good

Congress has extended the generous Cobra subsidies for the uninsured four times since they were implemented in February 2009, but Congress failed to pass a fifth extension before the last extension ran out on June 1, according to a report by National Public Radio.

Advertisement

With lawmakers increasingly worried about passing big spending measures before the November election, it’s unclear whether Congress will pass the Cobra extension when it returns from recess next week.

About 500,000 workers who lost their jobs each month were eligible for the Cobra subsidy and up to one-third took advantage of it, according to the Obama administration.

Without the subsidy, which pays up to 65 percent of the insurance premium, a laid-off worker would have to pay more than $13,000 a year for family insurance.

Read NPR‘s report on Cobra insurance subsidies.

At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Advertisement

Next Up in Uncategorized

Advertisement

Comments are closed.