Pappas Calls on Congress to Subsidize COBRA to Help Preserve Access to Affordable Coverage for Granite Staters

Statement

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) called on the House leadership to ensure that the next coronavirus relief package includes measures to help New Hampshire families affordably maintain access to their existing health coverage in the face of skyrocketing job losses. Because most Granite Staters obtain coverage through an employer, the current economic downturn could result in untold numbers of families losing access to critical health services at the worst possible time.

Pappas is urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to federally subsidize COBRA (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), which allows employees to remain on their current health care plans after being laid off. Pappas has also repeatedly requested the creation of a special enrollment period for the ACA exchange in the face of this public health emergency.

"On top of the financial pain caused by the loss of a job or a small business, thousands of Granite State families are also worried about losing their health insurance coverage in the midst of a public health crisis," said Congressman Pappas. "That's why I'm calling on the House leadership to make preserving access to affordable health coverage a top priority as we develop the next coronavirus relief package. Congress should subsidize COBRA so that workers can keep their doctors and their health coverage even when an employer scales back or closes. We should also mandate a special enrollment period to enable more Granite Staters to find an affordable plan that works for their family. No one should lose their health care because of this pandemic, and no one should go without coverage during this crisis."

Pappas's letter to the House leadership requests the inclusion of the following policies in the next coronavirus legislative package:

Providing generous federal subsidies for COBRA coverage, including subsidizing employer administrative costs associated with the program;
Ensuring that individuals who obtain coverage through the ACA exchange aren't forced to repay money at the end of the year due to income fluctuations; and,
Mandating a special enrollment period so that Granite Staters can obtain coverage through the ACA exchange.

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