Unemployment Extension Bill: Will It Take Care Of Health Insurance

By Julie Smith on July 23, 2010, 10:54 am

Following the 59-39 Senate vote on extending unemployment benefits to over two million Americans who have lost those benefits, the US House voted 272-152 to also extend those benefits. The bill now goes to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. This comes after weeks of tense negotiations and debate on the Senate floor over the wording of the legislation and objections raised by Senate Republicans over the cost to taxpayers and adding to the already exploding deficit and federal debt.

The bill extends benefits for another twenty six weeks into November where another battle will most likely occur. The measure was also not a full extension. Tiers 1-4 which were available previously, will still be available now. However there are neither Tier 5 benefits nor benefits for those previously ineligible.

Insurance and Other Benefits Shaved

In order to rein in conservative Democrats and to make the bill appealing to some Republicans, the original $25 a week bonus to the benefits was removed. Additionally the COBRA subsidy, which covers sixty-five percent of premiums for out of work families, was cut. This will mean that those on unemployment will be forced to cover one hundred percent of their insurance premiums. As an option for those losing COBRA, there are discounted state plans that took effect July first under the new Obama health care legislation. These plans and premiums vary from state to state.

 

Another Fight Looms

These benefits will only last for another twenty six weeks, until November, when they expire again shortly after the midterm elections that has both houses of Congress up for grabs by both parties.  White House spokesman Gibbs, in speaking about the next battle remarked, “I think it is fair and safe to assume that we are not going to wake up and find ourselves at the end of November at a rate of employment one would not consider to be an emergency.”

Related posts:

1. Unemployment Extension And COBRA Health Insurance: Latest Summary
2. COBRA Extension Excluded In Unemployment Leaves 2M More Uninsured
3. Unemployment Extension Checks: The Latest On COBRA Insurance Subsidy
4. Will Cobra Extension Give Relief To The Health Of Unemployed Americans?
5. Unemployment Extension 2010: Anger At Slowness Of Gov Checks

One Response to “Unemployment Extension Bill: Will It Take Care Of Health Insurance”

1. SAYEED O. SALAHDEEN says:

   July 23, 2010 at 1:52 pm

   If the Unemployment Law in the pre-2008 economy allowed up to 4 extensions (Tiers 1,2,3,4) the we the citizens did not recieve an extension. Another Tier would be appropriate for a post-2008 economy. Correct?