U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bill to help thousands of working Montanans who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 to retain their healthcare coverage. Daines’ bill would ensure Montanans are able to afford to keep their employee sponsored healthcare insurance by covering up to 85% of the cost of the plan.
“Working Montanans and their families are facing serious hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic including losing their jobs and their health insurance,” Daines said. “That’s why I’m fighting to help ensure Montanans can afford to keep their health coverage if they lose their job because of COVID-19. Montanans shouldn’t be worried about not having health insurance as we’re dealing with a global pandemic.”
Daines’ bill will save Montana families an average of $1,200 a month AND ensure they get to keep their current health insurance plan including current deductibles, doctors, co pays and more.
Daines’ goal is to ensure Montanans are able to afford and keep their health plan without paying more because they lost their job due to COVID-19—something totally out of their control.
Under normal circumstances, when an employee leaves their job or loses their job they have the option to keep their employer-sponsored health insurance by paying all of the costs, including the amount their employer was contributing through a program called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
Daines’ proposal will ensure those who lose their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to keep their health insurance coverage through COBRA without paying more than they did when they were fully employed, with up to 85% of the costs covered.
This assistance will help cover these workers’ health insurance costs through the end of 2020. This will cover the health insurance of millions of American nationwide who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
Background:
Daines has been leading the efforts in Congress to respond to the coronavirus outbreak impacting the country. To read about Daines’ COVID-19 related efforts, click HERE.
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