House Democrats Expected To File Discharge Petition To Force Vote on Measure That Would Cover COBRA Premiums

House Democrats on March 13 will file a petition to force a vote on a bill (HR 3341) introduced last November that would help unemployed workers purchase health insurance, CongressDaily/AM reports (CongressDaily/AM, 3/13). The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), would offer workers laid off between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2002, a one-year, 75% subsidy to purchase health insurance through COBRA and would allow states to cover the cost of COBRA coverage for individuals in families with annual incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level. COBRA, the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, allows unemployed workers to retain health coverage under their former employers' insurance plans by paying 102% of the premiums. The bill also would provide additional funds to allow states to extend Medicaid coverage to unemployed workers who do not qualify for the program. The House referred the legislation to three committees last November, but none of the committees have reported the legislation. Democrats decided to file a petition to force a vote on the bill last week after the House passed economic stimulus legislation that did not include provisions to help unemployed workers purchase health insurance (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/12).