State Treasurer Dennis McKinney wants to be certain that Kansans that have lost their job since September 1, 2008 are aware that assistance in maintaining family healthcare coverage is available through the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "With our unemployment rates climbing, many Kansans are faced with the added burden of losing health coverage for their families," said Treasurer McKinney. "The COBRA premium assistance is a critical part of the Recovery Act and will help to ensure that hard working Kansans continue to have access to quality health services."
Recession-related job loss is reaching increasingly high levels and many families are losing their health insurance coverage for this reason. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides relief for those that have been involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Under this act up to 65% of COBRA assistance will be subsidized in order for families to continue to receive quality healthcare.
For workers that have declined COBRA coverage there is still time. Under ARRA, official notice must be provided by employers to eligible employees no later than April 18th, 2009. Workers will then have 60 days from the time that they are notified to re-enroll for COBRA coverage at the rate of 35% of the prior cost. For further questions regarding eligibility it is important for Kansas workers to contact their former employers.
"Kansans work hard and often find it hard to accept that they need help, but many families are struggling in our current economy," added McKinney. "The Recovery Act contains some key provisions to get help directly to Kansas families until they can once again become fully employed in the workforce."
