Legislation Introduced To Help Unemployed With Health Insurance

Sacramento, CA — A move is underway to help Californians maintain health insurance while unemployed.

AB-23 will ensure that Californians who lost their jobs while working for a small company will be notified of their possible eligibility for a 65 percent subsidy to help them pay for their health insurance.

The measure also gives those who lost their jobs between September 1, 2008 and February 16 of this year, and did not elect to continue their health insurance under COBRA, the ability to seek that coverage now with a 65 percent federal subsidy.

The legislation was introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chairman Dave Jones (D) from Sacramento and Assembly Health Committee Vice-Chairman Nathan Fletcher (R) from San Diego.

The legislation will now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and then onto the Assembly floor for discussion and a vote.

Written by bill.johnson@mlode