New Business: One-third of those eligible used COBRA subsidy

According to a study by the Treasury's Office of Economic Policy, about a third of unemployed workers who were eligible took advantage of the COBRA subsidy to help pay for their health insurance.

COBRA is the law that lets workers who lose their jobs keep their former employer-provided health insurance for up to 18 months if they pay the premiums. A 2009 law provided a government subsidy for 65% of premium costs for up to 15 months.

The reasons suggested by the study for not enrolling in COBRA included having health insurance through a spouse's plan or not being able to afford the premiums even with the subsidy.

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