On April 15, 2010, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (HR 4851).  Under the provisions of the Act, the 65 percent federal COBRA premium subsidy is extended to qualifying individuals who are involuntarily terminated between April 1, 2010 and May 31, 2010 inclusive.  Thus, the subsidy is again available for up to 15 months to these newly-qualifying employees.

Still pending in Congress is HR 4213, which would extend the federal COBRA subsidy program to all who are involuntarily terminated through 2010.

After Senator Jim Bunning finally allowed the rest of the Senate to act, it quickly passed a one month extension of the COBRA subsidy. The extension now applies for up to 15 months to all employees involuntarily terminated between March 1, 2010 and March 31, 2010.  These individuals will qualify for the 65% federal subsidy for COBRA for up to 15 months.

A longer term extension is being considered in the Senate that would expire on December 31, 2010.  Stay tuned.