Many states have been grappling with the operational aspects of the COBRA premium subsidies made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) which are also available for coverage offered by smaller employers subject to state “mini-COBRA” laws. Some states are also considering how to provide temporary coverage to those workers that ineligible for COBRA or mini-COBRA programs. To learn more about how states can build on the new federal subsidies for COBRA coverage for laid-off workers, please read a new brief by SCI.
Technical Assistance Available from SCI
There are many policy issues that deserve serious consideration by state policymakers seeking to provide health coverage to low- and moderate-income, laid-off workers and their families. SCI has been providing technical assistance to a number of states on issues related to COBRA and mini-COBRA premium subsidies.
Please contact us at sci@academyhealth.org if you have questions regarding:
- Extending the election period for mini-COBRA in your state (a second chance for previously laid-off workers to enroll, now that there's a new federal subsidy);
- Otherwise creating or changing a mini-COBRA law to take fuller advantage of ARRA subsidies;
- Providing additional state subsidies to laid-off workers who already qualify for federal subsidies under ARRA but may not be able to afford their remaining premium costs;
- How to provide health coverage to laid-off workers who are ineligible for any federal help;
- How to deliver state subsidies;
- How to determine income-eligibility for state assistance expeditiously while still protecting program integrity;
- How to notify eligible workers that help is available;
- Generating some potential offsetting cost savings for your state’s General Fund;
- Streamlining enrollment among eligible, uninsured, laid-off workers; or
- Any other COBRA/mini-COBRA questions.
SCI offers no-cost, personalized assistance to help your state move forward with health coverage expansion efforts and broader health care reform. To learn more about our technical assistance offerings please see our website.
