CRS Says Few Workers Take COBRA Due to Costs; Congress Mulls Legislation

The Congressional Research Service reported March 19 that only a small percentage of the unemployed who are eligible for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continued health care coverage actually take it because of concerns about costs and/or access to coverage.

Fewer than 10 percent of eligible individuals elected to take coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act for the 2008 plan year, down from 27 percent of eligible individuals in 2006, CRS said in its report, Health Insurance Continuation Coverage Under COBRA.

Even the share of eligible workers who took the temporary 65 percent COBRA subsidy under ...