End of COBRA subsidy slams jobless, fuels debate about public option

Hartford Courant, December 3, 2009

Millions of unemployed workers nationwide chose to keep their previous employer's health plan under COBRA. While the premiums are typically costly, a 65% federal subsidy, part of the stimulus plan, made the payments far more affordable starting last March. But by slashing health insurance costs for nine months and then taking the discount away, the government has focused America's debate about public support for healthcare on a narrow group of unemployed people, the Hartford Courant reports.