I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3930 

To extend for 6 months the maximum COBRA continuation coverage period 

for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between April 1, 2009, 

and December 31, 2009, and to amend the American Reinvestment 

and Recovery Act of 2009 to extend the eligibility period and maximum 

assistance period for COBRA premium assistance under such Act. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 26, 2009 

Mr. SESTAK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on 

Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To extend for 6 months the maximum COBRA continuation 

coverage period for individuals who were involuntarily 

terminated between April 1, 2009, and December 31, 

2009, and to amend the American Reinvestment and 

Recovery Act of 2009 to extend the eligibility period 

and maximum assistance period for COBRA premium 

assistance under such Act. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Extended COBRA 

3 Continuation Protection Act of 2009’’. 

4 SEC. 2. 6-MONTH EXTENSION OF COBRA CONTINUATION 

5 COVERAGE FOR INDIVIDUALS INVOLUN6 TARILY TERMINATED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2008, 

7 AND DECEMBER 31, 2008.. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—In applying a COBRA continu9 ation provision (as defined in section 2791(d)(4) of the 

10 Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(d)(4))) 

11 to an individual whose COBRA continuation coverage was 

12 a consequence of a termination (or reduction of hours) of 

13 employment occurring on or after April 1, 2008, and be14 fore January 1, 2010, if the maximum required period of 

15 COBRA continuation coverage is 18 months, such period 

16 is extended to 24 months. 

17 (b) TRANSITIONAL RULE.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an individual 

19 described in paragraph (2), under rules established 

20 jointly by the Secretaries of Health and Human 

21 Services, Treasury, and Labor, the individual may 

22 elect to continue and extend such coverage under the 

23 provisions of subsection (a) through an election simi24 lar to the election permitted under section 

25 3001(a)(4)(A) of division B of the American Rein26 vestment and Recovery Act of 2009. In no case shall 


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1 the extended period of continuation under this para2 graph exceed 6 months. 

3 (2) INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED.—An individual de4 scribed in this paragraph is an individual whose 

5 COBRA continuation coverage — 

6 (A) is described in subsection (a); 

7 (B) expired by virtue of reaching the max8 imum required period of continuation coverage 

9 before the date of the enactment of this Act; 

10 and 

11 (C) would, but for the application of such 

12 maximum required period of such continuation 

13 coverage, had continued after such date. 

14 SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF COBRA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE 

15 UNDER ARRA. 

16 (a) EXTENSION OF PERIOD FOR INDIVIDUALS TO

17 QUALIFY AS ASSISTANCE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—Sub18 section (a)(3)(A) of section 3001 of division B of the 

19 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public 

20 Law 111–5) is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2009’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘June 30, 2010’’. 

22 (b) EXTENSION OF MAXIMUM PERIOD OF COBRA 

23 PREMIUM ASSISTANCE.—Subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii) of such 

24 section is amended— 


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1 (1) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘9 months’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘15 months’’; 

3 (2) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subclause 

4 (II); 

5 (3) by striking the period at the end of sub6 clause (III) and inserting ‘‘, or’’; and 

7 (4) by adding at the end the following new sub8 clause: 

9 ‘‘(IV) December 31, 2010.’’. 

10 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

11 this section shall be effective as if included in the enact12 ment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 

13 2009 (Public Law 111–5). 

Æ 


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