These research findings, released by Hewitt Associates on December 23, found that average monthly COBRA enrollment rates among ARRA subsidy-eligible employees increased 20 percent since the ARRA subsidies were enacted in March 2009.  It examined 200 large U.S. companies between March and November 2009, finding that COBRA enrollment rates among subsidy-eligible employees averaged 39 percent, compared to a 19 percent enrollment rate in the corresponding period prior to the subsidies.  The Hewitt analysis also presents COBRA enrollment data by industry.

From the press release:

Since the subsidy was enacted in March 2009, Hewitt's analysis shows that companies in the industrial manufacturing and aerospace and defense industries saw the largest overall increases in COBRA enrollment rates for subsidy-eligible employees. In the industrial manufacturing industry, for example, COBRA enrollment rates for eligible employees rose from 7 percent (September 2008 to February 2009) to 67 percent (March 2009 to November 2009). In addition, companies in the aerospace and defense industry saw the rate of COBRA enrollments more than double, from 30 percent (September 2008 to February 2009) to 63 percent (March 2009 to November 2009).

Press release about the report: http://www.hewittassociates.com/Intl/NA/en-US/AboutHewitt/Newsroom/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?cid=7916