The Employee Benefits Security Administration has answered more questions about the move to extend the federal health benefits continuation subsidy program until Feb. 28.
EBSA, an arm of the U.S. Department of Labor, has aimed the latest batch of 15 answers mainly at individual consumers.
In response to one question, for example, EBSA writes about the possibility that some COBRA recipients who paid the full 100% premium before the subsidy program was extended may be eligible for premium reimbursement payments.
Under the rules of the COBRA subsidy program, eligible individuals who have lost their jobs pay just 35% of the cost of COBRA coverage, and the federal government uses a tax credit to pay the other 65% of the cost.
Congress recently extended the maximum COBRA subsidy period to 15 months, from 9 months.
Congress also agreed to let involuntarily terminated workers into the program if they lose their jobs by Feb. 28. When Congress first created the subsidy program, the program was set to expire Dec. 31, 2009.
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