Congressman Sander Levin

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

We urge you to quickly bring to the Floor an extension of the COBRA premium assistance adopted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
 
As you know, beginning on March 1, 2009 ARRA provided a 65 percent tax subsidy for COBRA health insurance benefits to workers laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009 for up to nine months.    
 
With monthly premiums for COBRA coverage averaging over $400 for individuals and more than $1,000 for families, the COBRA subsidy has made health care more affordable for the unemployed and their families.  According to one survey, the percentage of laid-off employees opting for COBRA has doubled compared with the months immediately prior to enactment of the subsidy.
 
However, as the COBRA subsidy expires millions of unemployed Americans and their families will become uninsured because they cannot afford their policy.  On November 30th, the nine-month subsidy expired for the first laid-off workers who received it since it became available and each month thousands more will lose their COBRA benefit unless the subsidy is extended.  Additionally, since our nation is faced with the highest unemployment in twenty six years and economists predict more job losses in the coming months, Congress should maintain this important health care safety net.  
 
Under your leadership, the House of Representatives passed historic legislation to ensure affordable health care for all Americans last month.  Once again, we look to you for support to ensure unemployed Americans can retain affordable health care coverage. 
 
Thank you for your commitment and ongoing efforts to improve health care in our nation.  

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