PROVIDENCE, RI -- Lt. Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts today joined Gov. Donald Carcieri, House Majority Leader Gordon Fox and Senator Frank DeVall, Jr., at a press conference to sign H6099/S843 into law. The legislation opens an enrollment period for individuals eligible for Rhode Island Extended Benefits (Mini-COBRA) who lost their jobs since September 1, 2008, giving unemployed former workers from small businesses and businesses that have closed access to a subsidy for health insurance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“After my office opened a hotline to connect recently unemployed Rhode Islanders to a federal subsidy for their continued health coverage, I learned there was a gap that would prevent hundreds of laid-off Rhode Islanders from accessing federal help,” Roberts said. “Today that gap has been closed, thanks to rapid and coordinated action by bill sponsors, House Majority Leader Fox and Senator DeVall, the House and Senate leadership, the Governor, Rhode Island health insurers and the Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner.”

ARRA provides a subsidy of 65% of the health insurance premium for laid-off workers. Rhode Island Extended Benefits (Mini-COBRA) is an extension of the federal COBRA program for companies with fewer than 20 employees and companies that have closed. The legislation allows those involuntarily terminated to opt back in to the program now made more affordable by the federal subsidy, retroactive to March 1, 2009. The enrollment window for those who would like to opt back into the program will close May 1, 2009.

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