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What programs did Congress leave unfunded?

Extended unemployment benefits will expire for more than 200,000 people on Monday.
Extended unemployment benefits will expire for more than 200,000 people on Monday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Senate left for recess without passing bill that extends funding for various programs
  • Extended unemployment benefits will expire for more than 200,000 people on Monday
  • National Flood Insurance Program's authorization expired last Sunday
  • Senate expected to take up bill after it returns on April 12
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(CNN) -- The Senate left town for its spring recess without taking up a bill that would patch funding for unemployment benefits and other programs.

Lawmakers plan to take up the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 when they return later this month, but until then, several programs will be left in the dark.

Read the legislation (pdf)

Here are some of the programs affected:

Unemployment benefits and COBRA

Extended unemployment benefits will expire for more than 200,000 people on Monday because the Senate failed to pass the House version of the extension of deadlines to apply for federal unemployment benefits and the COBRA health insurance subsidy.

This means those receiving state jobless benefits won't be able to apply for additional federally paid unemployment insurance, and anyone already receiving those checks could be cut off. They also won't be able to sign up for the 65 percent federal subsidy for COBRA unemployment insurance.

CNNMoney: Thousands to lose jobless benefits April 5

Key Democrats said they hope to pass a retroactive extension, compensating the unemployed for a gap in funding, after they return from recess the week of April 12. If approved, it would be the seventh time the deadline has been extended since June 2008.

Cut in Medicare payments to doctors

Starting April 1, doctors are slated to be hit with a 21 percent reimbursement cut to payments they receive for Medicare services. The legislation would have extended a freeze on the reduction for another month.

The "doc-fix," which would have permanently increased Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors, did not make the final version of the recently passed health care reform legislation. It would have cost more than $200 billion over 10 years.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services asked its contractors to hold claims for some services for 10 days, allowing Congress more time to take up the legislation.

The CMS expects a minimum impact on doctors since claims are not paid for at least two weeks after being received.

National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program's authorization expired last Sunday. Until the lapse ends, the NFIP cannot issue new policies, increase coverage on existing policies or issue renewal policies, according to FEMA.

Poverty guidelines

The bill extends the use of 2009 poverty guidelines for federal programs through April 30, therefore preventing having to lower the poverty line, according to the House Committee on Ways and Means. This would prevent some people from being excluded from programs including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

CNN's Ted Barret and Kristi Keck and CNNMoney's Jennifer Liberto and Jeanne Sahadi contributed to this report.