OREGON Health Insurance : state continuation of health benefit plans : EasyToInsureME

OREGON Health Insurance : The Insurance Division adopted new rules governing the federal subsidy for state continuation of health benefit plans, allowing Oregonians to take full advantage of the benefits provided under the federal stimulus law. The state's COBRA authority applies only to companies with fewer than 20 employees, and changes were sought to allow state regulations to match the broader stimulus benefits. The federal economic stimulus package extends a 65 percent subsidy for up to nine months of coverage. The legislature passed a law that extends the period of eligibility for state continuation coverage from six to nine months and allows the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules necessary to allow residents to take full advantage of the benefits provided by the federal law.