An update: the stimulus bill that the Senate passed scales back the proposed COBRA subsidy to 50 percent of premiums. Now it's up to the House and Senate conference committee to work out what the final bill contains. Congressional economists estimate* the House version of the COBRA subsidy would help 7 million people hold on to health insurance.

—Nancy Metcalf, senior project editor

Read more about COBRA and the stimulus bill, and share your experience and thoughts with us on COBRA.

*links to PDF download