Expansion of Cobra Subsidy Has Had Little Impact

Source: EBRI

Income of the Elderly Population Age 65 and Over, 2008,’ and ‘Examination of the Short-term Impact of the COBRA Premium Subsidy and Characteristics of the COBRA Population’

June 2010, Vol. 31, No. 6
Paperback, 16 pp.
PDF, 563 kb
Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2010

Current data indicate that the COBRA subsidies that became available in April 2009 do not appear to have had an immediate impact on the percentage of individuals with coverage through a former employer, but it is too early to tell from nationally representative surveys if and when take-up of COBRA accelerated. Data through August 2009 (and limited data through November 2009) are expected to be available in September 2010, when it will be possible to examine the impact that the premium subsidy has had on take-up of COBRA.

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