Unless Congress acts, the federal COBRA subsidy to help laid-off workers pay for health insurance will expire May 31, and on Feb. 28 new applicants won't have access to the subsidies, according to the Kansas City Star.
However, Congress' new jobs bill, as yet unreleased, is expected to extend COBRA subsidies to workers laid off after Feb. 28 and possibly add three months or more of coverage for current recipients.
The subsidies are generous. The average monthly COBRA premium for family coverage in Missouri is $365 with the subsidy and $1,044 without it.
Read the Kansas City Star's report on COBRA coverage.