articles.latimes.com — The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act launched a temporary government program to subsidize the often crippling cost of buying health insurance through a former employer's plan after a layoff. If the subsidy is not extended, hundreds of thousands will lose the subsidy, forcing them to pay health insurance premiums that are three times higher.
Dec 8, 2009 View in Crawl 4
stuffradioDec 9, 2009
You should've come to Canada where the Conservatives are actually looking out for the citizens :)
thesonofdarwinDec 9, 2009
Who pays for their health insurance currently? Oh... that's right, taxpayers are footing the bill. Damn, I thought that's what those conservatives were fighting against this whole time. I guess if you benefit from it it's all good.
barackalypseDec 9, 2009
Wait a second, you mean private companies provided people with health insurance? I thought only the Government was capable of doing that!
lcg9q3Dec 9, 2009
Who takes COBRA when they "really shouldn't have"? Nobody takes COBRA unless they absolutely need to. The cost is ridiculously high and it only lasts for 18 months after employment. Typically, someone will only take this option when they wouldn't get insurance otherwise. From your post, I don't think you understand what COBRA is. You cannot "go on COBRA" if you are still employed. It's not one of your insurance options, you probably have it confused with another plan. COBRA is an insurance option for those who were "let go" from there jobs. Not fired, but more on the lines of getting laid off b/c the economy is in the s**tter. Once laid off or let go, someone who is involved in a group insurance plan can elect to continue coverage under COBRA at their own cost. Typically, the cost of health insurance is subsidized by the employer, but if you are laid off, you pay the full amount. The government is offering the subsidy to reduce the cost that these laid-off individuals have to pay so that they can keep their coverage.Expensive for the government...I'm sure it is. But a lot of people would lose coverage otherwise, which could be a real bitch for those that won't be able to get coverage anywhere else due to preexisting conditions.
johnchapinDec 9, 2009
I know what COBRA coverage is, I lost the job I was discussing. But the argument makes a point even if we're speaking hypothetically about a person losing their job. I seriously think there are some people who probably think that they can't get individual policies but are healthy and end up overpaying for insurance. I'm concerned that there are some uninformed people out there that might be taking advantage of a subsidy that they don't need... People that could be getting temporary coverage that covers disasters but doesn't cover all preventative care... There are those kinds of options, I took one of them for the next few months.But thanks for being rude and jumping on details instead of paying attention to the point I was trying to make.
k1n6Dec 9, 2009
dude i was paying 1200 a month for my cobra for a family of 4...... i can't imagine that getting much more expensive.
derangedpenguinDec 9, 2009
How's that whole Hopey Changey thing working out for ya?
davethe3rdDec 9, 2009
Crashing through the sky, comes a fearful cry,COBRA!!!COBRAAAAAAAA!!!COBRA!!!Armies of the night, evil taking flight,COBRA!!!COBRAAAAAAAA!!!COBRA!!!Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,Evil coming from all sides...Who can turn the tide...?G.I. JOOOOOOOOOOE!!!A Real American Hero™!G.I. Joe is theeeeeerrre....