COBRA bill could be health-insurance lifesaver

The House version of the economic stimulus package being debated in Congress includes a couple of little-noticed provisions that could be lifesavers for people who lose their group health coverage when they lose their jobs.

Theoretically, laid-off workers can take advantage of COBRA, a decades-old federal law that allows people to stay in the group plan from their old job for up to 18 months. But there’s a huge catch: You have to pay the entire premium yourself, instead of the 20 to 30 percent of it that you were probably contributing while you were working. And what premiums! The average individual plan costs $4,798 a year, and the average family plan, a hair-raising $12,932–more than 80 percent of the average unemployment benefit. No wonder that less than one in 10 people who are eligible for COBRA actually end up buying it.

Alternatives to COBRA are no better. Individual health insurance policies are expensive, typically have stingier benefits than group plans and may be unavailable or unaffordable to people in less-than-optimum health. People in their late 50s and early 60s are typically the hardest hit, because they’re more likely to have chronic conditions like high blood pressure that make them hard to insure at an affordable price.

The House bill would help in two ways:

• The government will subsidize 65 percent of the total COBRA premium, for up to a year, for people who are involuntarily laid off from their jobs or have their hours reduced to the point that they no longer qualify for benefits.
• People who have worked for the same employer for at least 10 years, or are at least 55 years old, can stay on COBRA (paying the full cost) until they get on Medicare. People who quit their jobs voluntarily would be eligible for this benefit, along with people who are laid off. (By the way, family members covered under an employee’s group plan could also take advantage of both of these provisions.)

The bad news is that the bill the Senate is debating only offers 9 months of the subsidized coverage, and doesn’t contain the second feature–extension of COBRA until Medicare age–at all.

Also, these provisions don’t offer any help for people who weren’t eligible for COBRA in the first place. That includes people who work at companies with fewer than 20 employees, and, of course, people who never had group coverage from their employers.

—Nancy Metcalf, senior project editor

Read more on the COBRA subsidy. Have you had any experience with COBRA or have thoughts about the provision in the House or Senate Stimulus bills? If so, share your story below.

Comments

[G. Green]

I had to leave my job of 23 years do to high stress, nervous brakedown, mental illness & other health issues. My employer is now threating to cut off my insurance coverage. I need answers on what i need to do about retaining a cobra. I am afraid that without health insuance i will not be able to get the help i need. The severe metal illness has made me have suicidal thought & perhaps going through with it. Running out of hope fast

[Rick Cristo]

I have been on Cobra for 16 months and my coverage expires in October. I have tried to quallify for a private policy but have been turned down because I had Prostate Cancer in January 2008 and had it removed surgicaly and have had no signs of cancer since. I am 63 years old my wife is 53 years old and we can't get health insurance; do I have any options.
Rick

[Daven]

I am a 44 year old man looking to purchase a COBRA plan for myself. I have been insured with Kaiser since October 2005 until now. While still a member of Kaiser under a family coverage plan, my two children and my wife decided to purchase a health coverage policy with another insurance company. When I contacted Kaiser by telephone to change the status of my family health coverage to an individual coverage, the customer representative informed me that in order to do this, I would have to cancel my family coverage policy first and re-apply to Kaiser for a single coverage policy.

On May 1, 2009, I requested Kaiser to cancel my family coverage health policy at the end of May 2009, and I re-applied to Kaiser under a single-person coverage policy. Kaiser sent me a denial letter stating that they “found it necessary to deny enrollment” for myself due to my health history.

Does any body know which insurance company sells fairly good COBRA policies? Thank you.

[Bob Wickizer]

I am an Episcopal priest working in Maryland. Most recently I served as an interim priest in a large parish. After serving a little over 2 years of a 3 year contract, my employment was terminated mainly over church politics. The staff of the church is slightly under 20 Full Time Equivalents although there are two associated schools and a cemetery operation with staffs that could push the total over 20.

I am also over 55. When we heard about the COBRA subsidy, we inquired whether we would qualify. We are paying diocesan COBRA amounts of about $1,600 monthly. The parish did not participate in unemployment so we do not receive any unemployment benefit either. What we were told about the new COBRA subsidy bill was that employees of religious institutions were specifically exempt and did not qualify.

I would like to know if that is true and if so, what were they thinking?

Thanks very much,

Bob Wickizer

[dave]

Terri Brown, (or anyone who knows)

First, I hope things are going better for you. I am also having to go onto COBRA this month due to LTD. My company has said nothing about being eligible for this program. Did it go thru for you? Does anyone know if people forced onto COBRA due to Disability are eligible to pay 35%? Thanks for any info.

[ArizonaJay]

My job was eliminated as of May 1 and my employer group insurance ends on May 31st. I am only 52 years old and am grateful that I will qualify for the 65% subsidy for COBRA. However, my husband is 66 and eligible for Medicare, which I believe exempts him from the subsidy. We did not put him on Medicare when he reached 65 since I had excellent coverage at work. Question: How quickly can I get him on Medicare? Is the fastest way by telephone or a visit to the SS Office? There seems to be some kind of 10% penalty for not enrolling him when he reached 65 - can anybody explain this to me, IF it applies? (I do know that I can continue him on COBRA with us paying 100% of the premiums, but odviously that is expensive and we obviously need to minimize our costs.)

[Tamara]

I was laid off on 2/27/09 and got an original form without the subsidy and contacted COBRA to find out how to get the subsidy and they stated that revised forms were going to be sent out by their 4/17/09 deadline. My employer tells me that the health provider sent it on that date but it still hasn't arrived in the mail. I am getting anxious because we need to reinstate our health coverage and the automated system still has the "old" information regarding my premium, with no new information on a new form having been sent out. I also spoke with customer service and they said that they don't know whether a new form was sent or not. I'm chasing my tail here and don't know what to do next to secure my coverage at the subsidized rate. If anyone has experienced a similar situation and found "the answer," pleas let me know. Thanks!

[Kathy Schneider]

My question is regarding my eligibility. I was laid off on Aug 8, 2008 but my COBRA did not begin till September 1. Am I eligible or not?

[Diane]

I was laid off Aug 8th 2008, am I eligible for the COBRA subsidy or am I 3 weeks to early.

[ellie]

Dale: Are you saying (1) that you're eligible for COBRA, but just not the special subsidy or (2) that you're not eligible for COBRA at all, at any price? If you can get COBRA coverage, whatever the price, you should beg, borrow or steal the money to continue coverage. I suggest you contact the kidney disease foundation and explain your situation and ask if they can help find the funds for your insurance premiums. If you are not eligible for COBRA at any cost, then you have a problem. In states like New YOrk you cannot be denied an individual contract because of a pre-existing condition, although you may pay a very high premium, but other states have different rules.

If you are unlikely to become employed at another job with medical coverage, and can't get individual coverage, then you need to look into other options -- like whether you should move to a state where it is easier to get insurance, whether you qualify for Medicaid or other public programs, and whether the companies that make your wife's medications might provide them at less than list price. Again, it is possible the kidney disease foundation could help you identify your options. Good luck to you.

[Dale Hrach]

I have been a contract worker for the past year and have paid enormous monthly health insurance premiums through the contract company. I was laid off and I have now been told the new 35% COBRA premium doesn't cover contract workers. My wife is a kidney transplant patient and we have to have insurance. Being that there is a pre-existing condition no other company will cover us. Her medications are vital to her health and life. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[Anne]

Those who are complaining about COBRA - please remember those of us who have to take HIPAA, through company closure. We will pay higher premiums and get no help at all in the stimulus bill. I want to believe this is government oversight, but right now if you can get COBRA you should consider yourselves lucky.

[ellie]

Glen: As far as I know, although you are entitled to COBRA in the case of either termination of employment or reduction in hours, the Stimulus bill subsidy applies only in the case of involuntary termination of employment. You should talk to someone in your union office, if you haven't already done so, as the rules that apply to union plans are sometimes different from the ones that apply to other plans.

[Glen]

I am a union carpenter ho lost my health coverage becouse of loss of hours. No Job so no coverage, Also Contractor did not pay Union. Now I have to get Cobra and am told have to pay the whole amount with no help from the goverment. what happen to the recovery plan for us. the bill for just one person is over $450 nper month does not leave much from the unemployment insurance to pay of much. Maybe someone know why the Union does not have to go by the goverment pay 65% of the coverage?

[S C]

Ellie,

Thanks very much for your reply. I need to find out more about the FMLA option. Thank you for pointing me to it.

-Sam

[ellie]

Sam: Go to that DOL link in my post of March 1. I believe it says the subsidy applies only in the case of involuntary terminations (e.g., layoff). You would still be entitled to COBRA in the case of a voluntary termination, but it looks like you would have to pay the whole premium yourself and would not be eligible for the special subsidy.

Have you considered asking for a leave under the Family & Medical Leave Act, since it sounds like family illnes is the reason for your leaving, and with a leave, you might still have a job when you come back.

[S C]

Can someone please help with my question? Do I qualify for Obama's 65% plan if I quit my job or does it only work for laid-off people? I know it is madness to quit a job in this economy, but due to some unavoidable personal circumstances (take care of ill parents), I have to quit my job and move out of state for a few months. I have a wife at home and 2 kids as well. I hope someone can respond with an answer.

Thanks in advance,
-Sam

[ellie]

Jan: That's a tough one. If you look at the Dept. of Labor newsletter link in the preceding post, it refers to individuals who become eligible for COBRA on account of involuntary termination of employment on or after September 1, 2008. If your daughter became eligible for COBRA for a different reason and before Sept. 1, she may not be eligible. I recommend you go to that DOL letter, read it, and sign up for updates. I'm not sure, but you may be able to direct your question directly to the DOL. You could also ask your daughter's former employer.

[Jan Manning]

My daughter has been unable to work since April of 2008, because of a medical condition. She took the FMLA leave first and then her company offered a 3 month personal leave. During the personal leave she signed up for Cobra which began in August 2008. She was terminated from her job in October 2008. Will she qualify for the subsidy?

[ellie]

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsCOBRApremiumreduction.html

Casey: Here is a link to a fact sheet issued by the U.S. Dept. of Labor a couple of days ago.You should read it carefully. If your employment was involuntarily terminated on or after September 1, 2008, it sounds like you still have the right to elect COBRA. Employers are supposed to send special notices to all affected former employees within 60 days of Feb. 17 (date of enactment of new legislation).

I would not suggest terminating your existing coverage until you are sure when your COBRA coverage takes effect. You might want to call your former employer to find out when they are sending out the special notice.

[Casey]

My question is how does this impact persons who got private insurance because it was cheaper than COBRA [but provided less coverage, naturally.]

If the subsidized COBRA is cheaper than their private insurance, can they cancel the private insurance and sign up for COBRA?

Thanks.

[ellie]

Terri: Based on what I know (and I am not an expert, just a consumer like you), you should be covered by the change in the law, as I believe it applies to individuals who became eligible for COBRA since last September.

One thing to keep in mind is that this change in the law requires a lot of regulation issuing and advice to employers from the government regarding the revised election period, notices that must be given to employees, etc., and I'm not certain how much of that advice has gone out yet. The way I understand the program will work, once it's in effect, is that the employer gets the subsidy from the government, and you just pay the employer or its administrator a much reduced COBRA premium.

If I were you, I would start by contacting your employer or whoever administers the COBRA for them and ask them how they are going to comply with the new law. If you have a COBRA election form, I believe you could just file the election form, electing COBRA coverage, but indicate on it you are waiting to know what the revised premium will be. Even before the law changed, I believe one had the option to elect coverage before paying (although there was a limit on how long you could wait to pay before losing coverage).

I don't know where you live, but you might also look into any public (i.e., state) programs that provide help on COBRA/medical insurance, as your income is quite low. Is there a social worker at the hospital or facility where you are being treated who would know about these things?

Good luck to you.

[Terri Brown]

I am currently on long term disability, due to breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy and am currently getting chemotherapy which makes me unbelievably sick and unable to work. My disability is only 60% of my pay, and my insurance was canceled January 31 because I am not working. I have to get COBRA to continue my health coverage which is $440.00 a month, and then to continue my dental that's another 75.00 per month. That leaves me a whopping $350.00 to live on. I haven't even attempted to pay any of my HUGE medical bills yet, I have no means in which to do so! From what I understand about this COBRA stimulus bill is that the government will subsidize 65% of my COBRA payment for 9 months. My question is when does this officially go into effect? My first two month payments are due (for February and March) and I need to know if these payments will be eligible for the new premium cost or if I still have to pay the entire amount? This is huge for me and I would appreciate any help I could get on this question. Thank you, Terri

[ellie]

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html

Here is the Dept. of Labor's web page on the Stimulus bill COBRA rules. You can subscribe to this page and get updates as the DOL issues additional info.

[ellie]

Sandy: Unfortunately for you and me, the COBRA extension for older workers was not included in the final bill signed by the President.

Jason: I believe there is a lookback period in the COBRA subsidy that may benefit people who initially rejected COBRA, but I'm not sure how far back. You should contact your former employer's HR office, as they should know.

[Sandy Rennewanz]

I am 60 years old and have a pacemaker. The only insurence after cobra for me is HIPPA. To get the same coverage under HIPPA, my monthly cost for coverage will almost triple. The house version extended cobra for me to 65 and medicare. I can't find out if the final bill the President signed has any extentsion in it. I can afford Cobra but HIPPA is a budget buster.

[jason hess]

i was laid off on dec 31 2008, through a big company in the oil refinarys in the tri state area. i recieved the cobra packet info in the maIL a month and a half ago but opped not to do it becouse it was so exspensive,. i would like to know how and what to do becouse i am intersested in getting the cobra now that it is alittle bit cheaper. how do i go about this. the stimulas bill makes me eligiable but im not sure if they send me a new paper in the mail? or what?? when i do get it would i have to pay so there was no lap in coverage still? its almost been 3 months and that bill would be close to a thousand now? helppppp. sencerly industral carp..

[Sam]

Thank you for the advice. I contacted my former employer and they said they would be sending me stuff. thanks for your response Ellie.

[ellie]

I am not an expert on this, but I believe the way the COBRA subsidy works, for those who are eligible, is that the (former) employer sponsoring the plan gets it from the government, and the former employee just pays his or her 35 or 40%, whatever the right percentage is, as his COBRA premium for the first 9 months of coverage. I believe there is a look back period on this, so if your employment ended in the last couple of months or so, you should contact your former employer.

[Sam]

Hello Everyone,

I was recently laid in Jan 09. I saw this blog posting and was wondering if someone could respond to me. Has this billed passed in congress and how do we file to get the 65% government subsidy. My full family cobra (wife and 2 kids)is around $1300 monthly and it would be a huge relief if the government would subsidize 65% of the cost.

Do I pay the full amount and get the money back at the ned of the year or can I somehow send the bill to government and have them pay the 65%. This might sound stupid but I never had to learn about cobra in the past.

Thanks in advance for responses.

Sam

[Terry]

All I am seeing in this stimulus package is assistance with paying 'Cobra' insurance premiums. What about assistance with 'Portability' or individual insurance premiums? My employer cancelled our group policy as of 12/31/08 which means 'Cobra' is not an option. Being 51 years old and working for the same company for 33+ years..now I have to take the very expensive 'portablility' policy or go without insurance as I have pre-existing that will disqualify me from other providers. Unless I am missing it I DO NOT see any provisions in this bill for assistance other than 'Cobra' premiums...am I wrong? Please tell me I am wrong and I will be able to get the same assistance as if I had a 'Cobra' policy.

[Julie]

A friend of ours was fired from his job of 25 years after a random drug test showed that he had some THC in his system at the time. This guy has otherwise been an excellent employee. He never had any accidents or incidences on the job. We think he was going through a tough time as his parents had both been recently killed in a tragic accident. His company didn't offer him any type of employee assistance (with the drug incident nor with the death of his parents), even after 25 loyal yrs of service to the company.

He was denied unemployment payments because of what they considered to be "employee negligance". He is using COBRA healthcare but the premiums are terribly expensive and he is not receiving unemployment benefits. He doesn't think he can continue to pay for the COBRA unless he qualifies for the 65% stimulus assistance.

My question is: Will he be eligible for the 65% Cobra benefit as stated in the stimulus package?

[Jim]

I received 6 months of severance pay from April 2008 - Oct 2008 which ended in Oct 2008. I've been receiving unemployment benefits since then and have had to pick up Cobra Insurance. A question, will we be able to receive the 65% assistance for Cobra payments in the stimulus bill? This would help greatly since I had to pay about $5,000 in January 2009 (to pick up family coverage from 11/01/08 through 02/28/09).

[Dana]

How will the subsidy work? And how would one access it? I was laid off in December 08 and I still have a window of oppurtunity to buy into COBRA. I would like to continue my coverage, but am unsure if I will need to pay the full COBRA premiums up front. Will the subsidy be applied at the time of monthly payments or is it like a tax deduction that will be applied when I do my taxes for 09?

[Allen]

Karen, I am in exactly the same situation as you (same age, as well). My COBRA runs out shortly and the insurance agent tells me I will not be able to get open market, individual, health insurance because I take a prescription that cost $150 a month (so, the premium is $500 a month). So all I can get is HIPAA coverage - it is indeed very expensive, also $500 a month for a high deductible and NO prescription coverage. For the wealthiest country on earth, I believe our health care system is a total disgrace!! We need universal health care - don't believe it will happen soon enough to help me and you, sadly.

[Karen]

I had to leave my employer two years ago and paid COBRA of almost $500 per month (for a single person) for 18 months. After my COBRA ran out, I checked into HIPAA, the "portability" act which requires that you be offered some continuing coverage. It was ridiculous, because they can offer you anything they want, regardless of what it will cost you. I have fibromyalgia, which they consider a pre-existing condition, so the least expensive option I was offered was $1,000 per month (remember, this is single coverage, not family), with a very high deductible. The other was $1,500 per month with a lower deductible. Either way, I would be paying somewhere between $15,000 and $18,000 per year before I saw a penny back, and then, of course, there are co-pays, etc.

Needless to say, I have joined the ranks of the uninsured. I am 62 years old (too young for Medicare) and I worked full time for over 40 years. Somehow, it doesn't seem quite right to me that now I have to take my chances that I don't get sick.

[ellie]

I haven't read the actual conference bill, but from what I'm reading in the press it looks like the extension for older/longer service workers was not included. However, a 60% subsidy for the first 9 months of coverage was included for people with incomes below certain limits ($125,000 for individuals, higher limit for married returns).

[Ted]

A lot of good this does some of us who really need it. I had a great plan and continued on COBRA but it was expensive - $1200 per month for a family. But we needed it as my wife had a stroke and is disabled. We have no income, because she was a stay at home Mom she can't get any federal insurance or disability, and looking at new plans now we'd pay a lot more on our own. One option was me and the kids and a state plan for my wife that would have given her terrible coverage and cost us about $2000/month. We are settling on a group plan (I own my own business) and should get away at about $1700. Seems like people that have been on this the longest are the ones that need the help and in my case before the end of this month!

[ellie]

Allen: I haven't seen the conference draft, but that does sound like it might be the provision. As I understand it, there were two COBRA-related provisions floating around: (1) one that would provide for reimbursement for the first 50 or 60% of the first 9 or 12 months' coverage following termination (as a means of helping more employees afford COBRA) and (2) another that would provide (a totally employee-paid) extension of the otherwise applicable 18 month coverage limit in the case of certain older and/or longer service employees. It was this second provision that was in the House bill but not the Senate bill. I will be surprised (and possibly enormously relieved) if it is really in the conference version. Something I read last night said that, in addition to enormous corporate employer opposition to this provision, Senators Baucus and Grassley, of the Jt. Committe on Taxation, were against including it because they didn't think it would provide a stimulus (I could tell them something about that) and wanted to defer it until they were working on comprehensive health care reform .

[Allen]

Page 386 of the conference version of the stimulus bill contains provsions for "EXTENSION OF COBRA BENEFITS". I can't really decipher it, but it contains wording about workers over 55. Does anyone know if this means the provision for workers to continue COBRA until Medicare elgible has been adopted??

[ellie]

Nancy: An update. I checked that NY state website re rates, and the rates I was quoted by Empire Blue Cross are right in the middle for the half dozen or so insurers offering coverage in my county (New York County). For coverage for one person, they range from about $800-$1,000 monthly for a straight HMO to $1100 to $1400 monthly for an HMO w/POS.

By the way, the rate Empire quotes for full family coverage (2 spouses, plus children) is almost $4,000 a month.

[ellie]

Thanks for that information, Nancy. I live in Manhattan, where the rates are the highest. The $1300 + I was quoted is for the Empire Blue Cross HMO with a POS (out of network) option, which is similar to what I have now through my employer (PPO with POS option). Empire also has a plain HMO option, but even that is almost $1,000 a month. And I do see a doctor or two who don't participate in-network with any plan, so if I don't have a POS option I'm going to be paying what I would have paid for the additional coverage in additional fees directly to the doctors.

I know there are cheaper plans out there, and if I remain unemployed a long time I'm going to have to find one. However, for now, I'd like to do everything I can to keep the doctors I have, and my experience is that most of the doctors I want to use in Manhattan participate only in networks of companies like Empire, Cigna, etc. They don't participate in Atlantic Health, GHI, and other companies with the cheaper policies. I believe that upstate and in more rural areas doctors are more likely to take everything.

I would be happy to take the Empire plan with a big deductible -- say, $5,000 or $10,000 a year instead of $1,000 -- but they don't seem to offer it with a larger deductible.

My situation is such that because of my assets, etc. I'm sure I don't qualify for any special breaks and I know I don't qualify for Medicaid, and don't want it. The typical middle class dilemma. Spend all your retirement savings on health insurance. If I became really desperate, I would simply drop all health insurance and use clinics at the good big teaching hospitals like NYU, Columbia Presbyterian, etc. and rely on my savings for anything not covered there.

The one thing I would like to see Congress do is go without their rich array of medical plans for 3 or 4 months. Federal employees have such a good deal and I think really don't understand what it's like for people who aren't federal employees.

[Nancy Metcalf]

For Ellie, and any other commenters who live in New York state, I highly recommend a visit to the New York State insurance department Resource Center, http://www.ins.state.ny.us/chealth.htm . It’s one of the most consumer-friendly state insurance department sites I’ve seen. Among many other helpful features, it includes contact information and rate information for all individual HMO health-insurance plans licensed in the state. It also contains links to several programs that provide subsidized coverage for low- and moderate-income people. It’s worth checking them to see if you might qualify. (In fact, no matter where you live, if you have health-insurance problems, your state’s insurance department Web site should be one of your first stops.)

Depending on where you live, Ellie, you might be able to use this site to find a policy for less than the $1,300 per month you’ve been quoted. Don’t rule out joining an HMO. Under New York insurance law, HMOs have to offer a very complete set of benefits, http://www.ins.state.ny.us/health/h_mand.htm . You have a restricted choice of doctors, of course, but for a number of years now, our Ratings of health insurance plans have shown a pretty high degree of satisfaction with HMOs—and they tend to be cheaper than other types of health plans.

- Nancy Metcalf
Senior Project Editor
Consumer Reports

[Karen]

Are you aware that the House and Senate bills (before conference committee) didn't even include COBRA help for anyone laid off before September 1, 2008, even though the recession began a full nine months earlier? What do they expect us all to do? We're barely hanging on.

Is there any chance of separate legislation to fix the COBRA deficiencies?

[Bob Webb]

I've been trying to keep up my Cobra payments. I was laid off in Oct 2008 and have been running about a month behind. Unemployment insurance payments started later than I had figured. It covers rent and Cobra and that's it. I was notified by mail yesterday (Feb 10) that my Cobra had been canceled as of Jan 1st. I will contact them today to see what options, if any, I have, to at least extend the coverage through January, to cover payments Aetna has made on my behalf. Otherwise I will end up owing Aetna for their share of the payments. What a mess! I may end up going to the city's health care system for help as I have a number of chronic "challenges." I was 60 in November.

[ellie]

To Allen: I also emailed Rangel, as he is House chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation. I also emailed all the Senate members (about 6) of that Committee, as the COBRA provisions are in the tax code, and I imagine staff members of the Joint Committee will play a role in drafting the conference version of the legislation. I didn't email HOuse members of the Joint Committee other than Rangel because I found it difficult to work with their web pages.

I emailed Charles Schumer, as he is one of my NY senators. In addition, I emailed Ted Kennedy, chair of the Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions ("HELP"), and a longtime advocate for health care. I also emailed Sen. Mel Martinez, the Ranking Republican on that committee. I also found an email address for the HELP committe and sent one there, hoping it might reach the hands of an appropriate staff member.

In addition, I emailed several members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, although I'm not certain how much weight they carry.

Finally, I sent an email to President Obama, which was easy to do as the WH has the best website of them all.

I'm not certain my choices were the best, but they were the best I could think of last weekend, as I didn't have the time or inclination to write to every single member of the Senate and House.

I know employers are against this provision. However, I wonder if they realize how many of their older employers (who are not laid off) stay with their jobs longer than they might otherwise simply to keep their health insurance. I'm certain some of these employees would retire earlier or quit earlier if they knew they would have a longer period of COBRA as a bridge to Medicare. There may be some burden on the employer's health insurance (although I believe employers overstate it), but it's not as great as having these employees on the payroll as well.

[Allen]

I was laid off from my job in early 2008 and subsequently developed multiple, chronic health problems which have so far prevented me from returning to work (assuming anyone would hire a 61 year old individual in this economy anyway). Since that time, my health insurance has been covered by COBRA but my 18 months will be ending this summer. I am certain that I will not be able to get open market, individual coverage at that point and HIPAA insurance is very limited in coverage and essentially unaffordable to someone unemployed at any rate. I emailed Charlie Rangel imploring him to do all possible to assure that the COBRA extension provisions of TITLE III of H.R. 598 be included in the final version of the economic stimulus package. Can anyone tell me who else (in the Senate?) would be most appropriate to email to express these sentiments?? Big business is very opposed to this provision so I don't expect to see it become law but feel I should express my beliefs anyway.

[ellie]

I am 61 and was laid off in August 2007. My $550 monthly COBRA coverage expires at the end of this month. The closest individual self-pay policy available from NY Blue Cross costs over $1300 monthly starting next month. This is coverage for one person.

I was very sorry to see that the Senate version of the legislation did not have the older worker COBRA extension. I hope to have a new job soon, don't at the moment have any serious medical issues but don't feel I can go without health insurance, so will be spending an even larger portion of my retirement savings on health insurance. Not to mention drastically reducing all other spending.

Over the weekend I sent emails to 15 or 20 Senators, and a few Representatives, on various committees -- Jt. Committee on Taxation, HELP, Aging. I also sent an email to President Obama.

I was struck by the difference in usability of their web pages/sites. The White House website is helpful, fast and easy to use, got an email off very quickly. Everything else paled in comparison. Some of the House pages didn't seem to work at all, several times I ended up with no longer functioning servers. The Committee page for the Senate Special Committee on Aging correctly identified the current Democratic chair, but identified a Ranking Republican who is no longer in office (so more research on that issue to identify current Ranking). Individual Senate pages tended to work better than House pages, but were filled with a lot of BS and pretty pictures of the home state. (However, there was no way to send an email to newly-appointed NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.) This experience tended to confirm my suspicion that members of Congress are a bunch of out-of-touch self-congratulatory old farts. I wonder how they would feel about spending $1300 a month for individual health insurance, up to $4,000 a month for full family coverage?

[Bill]

I was not even offered COBRA. I worked for 7 years in a full time position.

[paul]

I was laid off in 2006 and still have not found a job despite a great deal of searching. I was over 55 when laid off.

I did not sign up for COBRA because the premiums were too high. I have been off and on unemployment insurance because of the various extensions. Right now, I am receiving limited unemployment insurance benefits.

Under this scenario, and assuming the Stimulus legislation is passed similarly to the "in between" positions of the House and Senate bills, will I be able to now join COBRA through my former employer more than 2 years after being laid off?

Also, will I be able to receive any premium subsidy or is this limited only to those laid off after September, 2008? (If the latter, it's questionable why the longer-term unemployed are not being assisted).

I realize the situation is still fluid, but I am interested if you can help interpret the Bills as they currently stand and apply to this situation.

On a related topic, for how many more weeks will unemployment insurance be extended for the long-term unemployed who are still, as of the time of passage of the Stimulus legislation, still receiving unemployment insurance under previous extensions?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated by me, and I am sure, many of your other readers. Thanks.