Rhode Island Law Expands COBRA Coverage To Former Employees Of Small Businesses

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R) on Thursday signed into law a bill that "officially closed a loophole" to allow workers laid off from small businesses or firms that dissolved to receive COBRA subsidies included in the federal economic stimulus package, the Providence Journal reports. Carcieri signed the bill after state lawmakers approved the measure on Wednesday. The stimulus package provides coverage of 65% of COBRA premiums to workers in firms with up to 20 employees and those whose firms closed. The bill was fast-tracked to amend current state law before the April 17 deadline imposed by the federal government (Needham, Providence Journal, 4/10).

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