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Annie Baxter
St. Paul, Minn.

Unemployment, COBRA benefits running out for many Minnesotans

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As the end of the year approaches, some unemployed Minnesotans will be bracing for the end of certain jobless benefits, including health insurance subsidies.

Earlier this month, Congress extended unemployment benefits coverage by an additional 14 weeks. States with higher unemployment rates got a bigger bump, but the federal program granting those extensions sunsets at the end of the year. Up to 47 weeks of extensions will be out of reach for workers who apply in the New Year.

"There are a number of individuals currently collecting extensions who will exhaust all benefit entitlements, even with these new added benefits, shortly after the first of the year," said Lee Nelson, Minnesota's chief jobless benefits attorney. "At best, even this latest federal extension forestalls the issue for a relatively short period of time."

Under current law, some Minnesotans may receive as many as 93 weeks of benefits. Starting in January, the maximum they could qualify for would be a much smaller 39 weeks, unless Congress passes new legislation authorizing further extensions.

Nelson says nearly 78,000 Minnesotans are currently receiving benefits under federal extensions. Without additional extensions, he expects the number of state residents exhausting their benefits to reach into the thousands-per-week in February.

COBRA subsidy nearing end

The eligibility period for a federal health insurance subsidy for the unemployed is nearing an end, and some laid-off workers are currently exhausting their subsidy.

COBRA health coverage allows workers to remain on their former employer's health plan for up to 18 months--on their own dime. Under the federal stimulus package, the government decided to pick up 65 percent of qualifying workers costly COBRA premiums. The help lasts up to 9 months.

Some laid-off workers are coming to the end of their subsidy and the window for new workers to apply for the help is coming to a close. The program sunsets at the end of December.

Some Minnesotans qualify for an additional state COBRA subsidy, based on income and assets.

A few bills in Congress would increase various aspects of the federal COBRA subsidy, including the duration of the assistance, the eligibility period, and the size of the subsidy itself.