What's New:

Federal and Ohio COBRA Update

Federal law was recently changed to extend the COBRA subsidy period by 30 days. Former employees whose employment was involuntarily terminated on or after September 1, 2008 and before June 1, 2010 will now qualify for the subsidy of 65% of their cost of COBRA health insurance coverage for a maximum period of 15 months. If an employer has fewer than 20 employees, upon employment termination, those employees receive continuation coverage under the state COBRA law rather than federal law. Ohio's mini COBRA law was also recently amended to coordinate with federal COBRA law by temporarily extending the health insurance continuation period from 12 to 15 months for so long as newly terminated employees are eligible for premium subsidies for COBRA and mini-COBRA coverage. The state law change will affect group health insurance policies issued, delivered or renewed on or after February 25, 2010.