COBRA Strong in its 25th Year

In a struggling economy, many of the programs that citizens have grown accustomed are subject to budget cuts.  What remains untouched might indicate what a society truly values.  The Department of Labor has recognized the 25th anniversary of a program ensuring that some American workers are taken care of.

The health insurance continuation provisions in the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, better known as COBRA, have guaranteed that when workers and their families face certain life events, they have the opportunity to maintain their health care coverage. Previous to COBRA’s enactment, workers had zero protection when they divorced, lost a job, or suffered the death of a spouse.

Since the passage of COBRA in 1985, 50 million workers and their families have had access to health care while they regrouped from their losses. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own received a 65 percent premium on their health insurance.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis stated that, “For 25 years, COBRA has been an essential safety net for those workers who play by the rules, yet still find themselves weathering difficult times. It ensures that they can continue their health coverage while getting back on their feet. That spirit — of responsible and responsive service to those who work hard and play by the rules, but sometimes need a hand up — is in line with the commitment of the Department of Labor to the working men and women of our nation.”