Access to COBRA healthcare subsidy may expand in California

Workers laid off by California's smallest businesses have a shot at subsidized healthcare under a bill moving quickly through the Legislature. As part of February's stimulus package, some laid-off employees can get the government to temporarily cover 65% of the cost of continuing their health insurance under the federal COBRA law, which allows workers to keep their healthcare coverage but requires them to pay the premiums. California's AB 23 would extend the subsidy to those who worked for companies smaller than the COBRA minimum of 20 employees.