According to the article “Health Law Preserves Cobra Plan” by Walecia Konrad on nytimes.com, the newest version of the health care reform bill leaves COBRA coverage the way it currently is formatted.  Kathryn L. Bakich, a national health care compliance director for the Segal Company, a benefits consultant adds that the law may offer some additional relief for people who cannot afford or are not longer eligible for COBRA.

There is a little bit of confusion raising some eyebrows.  COBRA coverage expires after 18 months of benefits.  In the House version of the health care bill, COBRA benefits would have been extended until the year 2014.  This is when many of the new and state-run health care exchanges would be going strong.  The Senate bill, which was signed into law, did not extend COBRA.

COBRA has acted as a bridge for many people laid off of for those who quit their jobs and 18 months tended to be enough time to find a new job or new PPO health insurance.  But with the job market down and more and more people losing their jobs, many are finding they need more than the 18 months.  It’s possible COBRA is looked at again as the economy changes, but for now not much will change.