Wednesday, December 23, 2009

EXTENDED HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY WILL HELP UNEMPLOYED OREGONIANS


Oregonians who have been laid off from their jobs can continue to receive help paying for health insurance into 2010. The Insurance Division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services is adopting emergency rules to ensure that eligible Oregonians can continue to get the subsidies past the original December 31 expiration date.
President Obama signed legislation this week to extend the health insurance subsidies that are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The program originally included nine months of subsidy, and the new legislation provides an additional six months for people already receiving help (bringing the total to 15 months). The new law also extends the eligibility period for two months (the program was scheduled to end Dec. 31), so people involuntarily terminated through Feb. 28, 2010 can receive 15 months of subsidy.
People who worked for employers with more than 20 employees and are keeping their insurance under COBRA law can find additional information at: 1-866-444-3272 or by visiting www.dol.gov/cobra.
People who worked for employers with 20 or fewer employees can call their insurance company or the Oregon Insurance Division. The division's consumer advocates can be reached at: 1-503-947-7984 or toll-free at 1-888-877-4894.

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