Those Of You Who Have Lost Your Jobs Recently

Those Of You Who Have Lost Your Jobs Recently

And have gone on COBRA continuation coverage need to know about this. One of the many provisions of the porkulus bill that passed is a 65% subsidy in COBRA premiums for those terminated September 1, 2008 through March 1, 2009. But: there is only a short period during which to request from your employer this subsidy (which is reimbursed by the federal government through a tax credit to the employer). And your former employer doesn't have to notify you about this--and mine, HP, of course, didn't. I called up to see about enrolling, and discovered that the deadline for me to do so passed last Monday.

UPDATE: Yes, they were required to notify me. They now claim that they sent out notice to me on April 1st. Somehow, miraculously, it is the only piece of COBRA continuation paper from HP that has not arrived, so they are under no obligation.

I've learned not to believe much of what HP says over the last several years. What really frustrates me is that there is no actual cost (other than some paperwork) to HP. They get a tax credit from the federal government for offering the premium subsidy equal to what it costs them. It does seem as though Catbert is their VP of HR.