Last night, President Obama signed a stop-gap bill that extends the COBRA subsidy eligibility through March 31. So employees who are involuntarily terminated between March 1 and March 31, 2010, would be eligible for subsidy participation. We will have more details as they are released, but it appears that clients should continue to use the COBRA subsidy notices and requests for treatment as a subsidy eligible individual that are currently being used until further notice.

Under H.R. 4691, the 65%, 15-month premium subsidy for laid-off workers is extended to those involuntarily terminated from March 1 through March 31.  Meanwhile, the Senate Wednesday will continue consideration of legislation, H.R. 4213, that would extend the premium subsidy to employees laid off through Dec. 31, 2010.