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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) led 26 of their House colleagues in pressing Congressional leadership to strengthen federal assistance to people receiving continued health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

“Given the expected increased demand for COBRA coverage in the coming weeks, it is imperative that we provide stability for Americans to preserve their existing health coverage and continuity of care during this unprecedented health emergency,” wrote Dingell and Upton. “Americans are already experiencing job loss as a result of the pandemic, and the current high cost of COBRA insurance means that many will be forced to go without health insurance if this situation is not addressed.”

COBRA coverage provides unemployed Americans temporary access to their former employer’s health insurance. Under current law, workers with COBRA coverage are required to pay the 100% of their employer’s share of their healthcare costs, which can result in thousands of additional dollars in costs annually. This represents a significant financial burden during a time of unprecedented uncertainty.

“Providing similar assistance as part of the COVID-19 legislative response would target economic relief toward workers in sectors that will be severely impacted by this pandemic, support continuity of care for those impacted by economic disruption, and substantially improve our national response to COVID-19,” the lawmakers pressed Congressional leadership. “We urge you to include a federal program to subsidize COBRA continuation of coverage for workers who lose health care coverage due to loss of a job or a reduction in hours in upcoming legislation.”

Dingell and Upton led the letter which was signed by Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Colin Z. Allred (D-TX), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chris Pappas (D-NH), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Steve Cohen (D-TN), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), David Trone (D-MD), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Bill Foster (D-IL), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Katie Porter (D-CA). 

The text of the letter to Congressional lawmakers pressing for increased COBRA support is available here and below.

Dear Leaders:

As you work on legislation to address the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to take action to strengthen federal assistance to those receiving continued health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Given the expected increased demand for COBRA coverage in the coming weeks, it is imperative that we provide stability for Americans to preserve their existing health coverage and continuity of care during this unprecedented health emergency.

As our nation’s public health officials have emphasized, it is important that all Americans have access to care if they have been exposed to the coronavirus or are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. COBRA coverage, which provides unemployed Americans temporary access to their former employer’s health insurance, helps meet this need. Ensuring that COBRA coverage is affordable is key to meeting the public health and economic challenges that any legislative response to the current crisis should demand.

Under current law, millions of unemployed Americans with COBRA coverage are required to pay 100% of their employer’s share of their healthcare costs, which can result in thousands of additional dollars in costs annually. This represents a significant financial burden during a time of unprecedented uncertainty. Americans are already experiencing job loss as a result of the pandemic, and the current high cost of COBRA insurance means that many will be forced to go without health insurance if this situation is not addressed. During the Great Recession, the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided federal premium assistance subsidies for COBRA health coverage, and this assistance was extended further by Congress into 2010. 

Providing similar assistance as part of the COVID-19 legislative response would target economic relief toward workers in sectors that will be severely impacted by this pandemic, support continuity of care for those impacted by economic disruption, and substantially improve our national response to COVID-19. We urge you to include a federal program to subsidize COBRA continuation of coverage for workers who lose health care coverage due to loss of a job or a reduction in hours in upcoming legislation.

Thank you for your efforts and assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,