The COBRA premium assistance subsidy ended May 31, 2010, and has not been reinstated. Therefore, individuals who were involuntarily terminated after May 31, 2010, do not qualify for the subsidy. However, individuals who qualified for the subsidy on or before May 31, 2010 could continue to pay reduced premiums for the full subsidy period (15 months), as long as they are not eligible for another group health plan or Medicare.  For employees who elected the subsidy in May 2010, and had no access to other health coverage since, their 15 months of COBRA premium subsidies expired at the end of August 2011. There may be some additional months of subsidy available in the limited situations in which a qualifying event on or before May 31, 2010, but COBRA did not commence until some date thereafter.

The information contained in this Benefit Beat is not intended to be legal, accounting, or other professional advice, nor are these comments directed to specific situations.

As required by U.S. Treasury rules, we inform you that, unless expressly stated otherwise, any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this Benefit Beat is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service.