On March 2, 2010 The Temporary Extension Act of 2010 extended the COBRA Premium Assistance program. The same law also extended unemployment benefits and maintained 2009 poverty levels through 3-31-10 among other things.

COBRA premium assistance reduces a laid-off employee's premium costs from 100% to 35% of the total premium cost. It is available to people who were enrolled in an employer health plan, laid off between 9/1/08 and (now) 3/31/2010 and who are not eligible for other group coverage (e.g. through a spouse) or Medicare. Premium Assistance lasts for up to 15 months or until expiration of COBRA coverage if earlier. The March extension also provides that someone who 1st qualified for COBRA based on a reduction in hours during the protected period (not job loss) and then loses the job after March 2, 2010 can also qualify for premium assistance. A December 2009 amendment clarified that it is only the job loss not termination of employer insurance coverage that must occur in the protected period (now ending 3/31/10)

The DOL website contains detailed information on COBRA and the premium assistance program: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html