As part of the new stimulus bill, the federal government is temporarily picking up 65 percent of the cost of private health insurance (COBRA) for laid-off employees. The subsidy lasts nine months for those laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. It’s available in full to individuals whose annual adjusted gross income doesn’t exceed $125,000, or $250,000 for joint filers. The subsidy diminishes after that.