U.S. unemployed face higher healthcare premiums

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Millions of unemployed U.S. workers face sharply higher health insurance premiums and loss of coverage as temporary federal subsidies expire, a healthcare advocacy group said on Tuesday.
With the U.S. unemployment rate topping 10 percent, FamiliesUSA is urging Congress to extend a measure that helps laid-off workers maintain employer-sponsored health coverage with a 65 percent subsidy on their insurance premiums.

A report released by the group on Tuesday said without the subsidy, insurance premiums would consume a significant portion of monthly unemployment benefits and in nine states exceed the average jobless benefit.

The subsidies began in March as part of the $787 billion economic stimulus and the nine months of benefits for the first group of recipients expired on Monday. The program runs through December and anyone laid-off before the end of the month remains eligible for nine months of subsidies.

Some Democrats are considering extending the program as part of new legislation they hope to pass before the end of the year to address unemployment. The issue will also likely be discussed at the White House's jobs summit on Thursday.

But Republicans worried about record federal budget deficits are expected to oppose extending the program.

If Congress fails to act, anyone losing a job in January and subsequently would receive no federal subsidies to maintain employer-sponsored health coverage through what has become known as the COBRA program.

Under that long-standing law, workers who lose their jobs can keep their employer-sponsored health plans for up to 18 months although they must pay the full premium. For many laid-off workers, the $1,111 average family monthly health insurance premium is too much, the group said.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5B00NO20091201

[avalonofmists]

1. A disaster just waiting to happen!

[crim son]

2. Uh, DUH!

I'm sick of hearing all the crappy healthcare news and nothing about how we're going to fix the system. No offense to the OP.

[My Good Babushka]

3. Having had a job loss before the subsidy was enacted

no one seems to be writing about those of us who have had to do without insurance for even longer. I guess we're chopped liver.

[DollyM]

4. it does feel like hope is fading farther and farther in the distance

I had strep throat over Thanksgiving week, finally broke down and went to the Doctor where they would accept my food stamp card as proof of being poor. While there the Dr. said I had borderline high blood pressure (over a year with no job for either of us, you think that might have something to do with a little bit of stress!) and a heart murmur. He wants me to come back and start treatment for the high blood pressure. Then I will have a pre-existing condition on my health records when I do find work or even if I want to apply for more life insurance. It just sucks all the way around.

[Blue-Jay]

11. Missed the cutoff by 10 days

Doesn't matter because the 18 months will be up soon anyway.

[midnight]

5. Hey Washington this is failure at its best.... Washington should live with

unemployment checks for a year, and then pay for this premium first.

[jpak]

12. How is this a fucking FAILURE - if it weren't for Obama and the Democrats there would be NO

COBRA subsidies OR extended unemployment benefits.

These are things that the GOP vehemently opposed.

and benefits they would not extend to unemployed Americans under any circumstances.

your assertion is beyond pathetic

:puke:

[Captain Hilts]

6. Wow. So federal subsidies already go to private health insurance companies? nt

[MilesColtrane]

7. Welcome to the world of the self employed.

At least you got some help for a little while.

[LynnTheDem]

8. To the millions unemployed, a message from REPUBLICANS:

"Republicans worried about record federal budget deficits are expected to oppose extending the program.


There ya go; republican party "family values" in action! So make sure you vote republican, coz they really CARE about you!


:eyes:

[superconnected]

13. Yet they've always been fine about funding the iraq war.

[inna]

9. "Spending" is for important things only -

such as wars and multi-trillion bailouts for the financial industry.

The poor, the unemployed and the struggling working people can go screw themselves - or better yet, jump in the lake.

A uniquely American way!1111! = Profits over people.


:banghead:

[Duer 157099]

10. Here's some more info in another thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7119136&mesg_id=7119136

[question everything]

14. COBRA is super expensive. Yet it is harder for people to shop

for individual policy because... most of us by now have some "pre-existing" conditions. Like.. living.