Governor Extends COBRA Health Insurance To Unemployed
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Governor David Paterson signed a law Friday that gives unemployed New Yorkers access to health insurance.
The new legislation will give people who lost their job a second chance to continue their health insurance benefits through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.
COBRA gives laid off workers and their families who lose their health benefits an extension for up to nine months.
Those laid off between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 are eligible.
Through a subsidy funded by the federal stimulus package, federal benefits will cover up to 65 percent of the COBRA payment.