Health insurance subsidy for laid-off workers has holes

A new federal subsidy designed to help laid-off workers pay for health insurance could be out of reach for thousands of jobless workers because they worked for a small company or their former employer has gone out of business. The subsidy, part of the economic stimulus package, covers 65% of COBRA premiums for individuals laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and the end of this year. The subsidy is available for up to nine months.