State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr.
April 14, 2009
Crisco Backs Senate Approval of Stimulus Bill That Includes Continuation of COBRA Health Care Benefits
The co-chair of the General Assembly’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Senator Joseph Crisco (D-Woodbridge) voted in favor of a bill approved by the Senate that will revise Connecticut’s insurance laws and clear the way for some unemployed workers to take advantage of the federal stimulus package that allows the continuation of health care benefits under COBRA, the Consolidate Omnibus Reconciliation Act.
COBRA is a federal law that allows some laid off workers to continue to receive health coverage by paying their share of the premium through their employer’s health care, but it can be very expensive. The bill allows certain individuals who had the right to continue being covered under the group health insurance plan that their employer provided after they were terminated from their job but chose not to apply for it to take advantage of a federal subsidy that will reduce the premium.
The legislation applies to former employees of employers with a workforce of fewer than 20 employees who were covered by Connecticut’s so called mini COBRA LAW. The federal stimulus package provides premium assistance for certain individuals receiving COBRA coverage. Eligible individuals will pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit.
“I think this is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to have access to health care. COBRA has historically been very expensive for individuals and while it is only for a year you are talking about premiums of $1,000 to $1,500 in certain situations,” said Senator Crisco. “With this change people will only have to pay 35 percent and this is very helpful during these very difficult economic times. It is not a cure all, but is a stopgap until people find employment or we come up with our own health care insurance.”
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