Have you ever heard a President explain what a scam COBRA health insurance coverage is?

[NNN0LHI]

No one else has ever taken the time to explain that the medical insurance that you think you are eligible for in the event of a job loss will be too expensive for you to afford if you ever actually need it.

No President has ever told that to the American people before that I can remember.

And Obama has done it two days in a row now.

Pretty amazing.

Don

[elocs]

1. In jobs where I have left I could never even remotely afford COBRA.

What a cover their asses joke it is.

[Royal Sloan 09]

2. K n R eom

[dflprincess]

3. I'll be even more impressed if he ever comes around to the realization

that all health insurance is a scam and that we need a single payer system.

[NV Whino]

4. Don't hold your breath.

[stillcool]

5. there you go...let's hold out until.....

single-payer can get passed. All or nothing...that's my motto!!

[dflprincess]

10. My fear is that Obama will get his "everyone has to buy insurance" system passed,

call it "reform" and it will be another 30 years before we get anything really done about the healthcare mess.

So yes, let's hold out until we can all get access to health care. Obama only wants us to have access to health insurance - and continuing to funnel money into the pockets of the crooks currently robbing us is not reform. The first clue that something is very wrong with Obama's plan is that the insurance companies aren't screaming about how awful his idea is.

[stillcool]

11. Makes no difference to me..

I have insurance...so it really doesn't matter to me.. but then again I live in Massachusetts, so I'm not even really worried if I find myself not being able to afford what I have. I don't know if I would be so cavalier if I had a family and lived in another state. I would think the first clue you had that something was wrong, was when he won the election.

[Donnachaidh]

14. this is exactly WHY we need universal health care

"I have insurance...so it really doesn't matter to me"

The "F*ck y'all, I've got mine" truly American Mantra. And one of the quoted reasons to WHY the healthcare costs are out of control.

Forest for the Trees, folks. It's time to REALLY open eyes and stop this nonsense.

[stillcool]

15. no that's why we need to pass...

legislation to help people now, rather than take the all or nothing line in the sand approach. You'll be waiting a long, long, time before one person in need of relief is helped. But who cares? I do not believe those pushing 'all or nothing' have a family that is in need of health insurance.

[dflprincess]

16. Disagreeing with Obama on some issues does not mean

I didn't vote for him or didn't want him to win the election. Granted, I haven't bought into the idea that he can do no wrong, and I don't expect all that much change from him, but the worse that can happen to me is I'll have to admit I was wrong about him. Believe me, I'll be happy to do that if he turns out not to be the DLC type (yes, I know he doesn't actually belong to the DLC) I expect him to be.

Given your "I got mine" attitude, I would think that you're the one who would rather have seen McCain elected.

[stillcool]

21. I guess you missed the point I was trying..

to make. Not surprising. I've been having a fantastic time with some people I worked with during the campaign calling Senators and Representatives. It's a real 'change' for me, as I live in a Democratic state and have never called Senators or Representatives other than my own. I don't share your expectations of Obama, or any human being for that matter. I suppose I probably have more realistic goals for myself and others, and perhaps a little more empathy for human beings.

[dflprincess]

22. I guess I did miss the point and I'm missing your point in your last post as well

I don't quite understand how not agreeing with Obama's ideas for health insurance and not expecting much from him translates into not have empathy for others. I will admit to not having a whole of empathy for elected officials, I'll save both my empathy and my sympathy for the people who have become the victims of politicians and their policies.

[Raster]

6. Healtcare insurance companies = parasites.

[snappyturtle]

7. It's nice that the President's offer may help but why doesn't he just

tell the insurance companies they have to offer the insurance at the same rate to those who lost their jobs as they had before losing their jobs? Why are taxpayers paying this? Are health insurers on the endangered business list?

[dflprincess]

8. Actually, what they should do is tell employers

they have to continue to pay their share of the premium for laid off workers. It might put the brakes on those companies (like United Health Group) that use the "rank and yank" system pioneered by Jack Welch at G.E. (This is where you lay off a percentage of your work force every so often whether you need to or not for financial reasons. The theory is that employees that in constant fear of losing their jobs will perform better and work cheaper. Very few employers actually admit to using this system but a lot do and evidence of using it has been admitted in Federal courts as proof of age discrimination as older, more expensive workers are often targeted.)

[Donnachaidh]

9. they claim they ARE offering it at the same rate.

It goes up dramatically because YOU have to pay what the employer was supposedly paying for you, along with the rates you were paying.

[snappyturtle]

17. I know what a COBRA is..I was offerred one during my divorce through

my ex's employer. What a joke it was. I am understanding that the gov't. will now pick up the employers' portion; I can't help but wonder if that's going to help someone who has no job even with unemployment benefits being raised a hundred dollars. I just think this is an opportunity to do something, anything, to get insurance premiums down. imho

[Captain Hilts]

12. And people who are self-employed can't afford health insurance either.

Good for him for bringing this to the fore.

[LibertyLover]

13. Years ago I was working in a law firm in DC

The partners in the practice area I was working for decided to leave and go to another firm. At first they only intended to take the associates who worked with them and not the legal assistants or the secretaries. The firm we were at then told us "support staff" that there would be no jobs for us once the practice group left. So the partners negotiated with the firm they were going to to take 2 legal assistants and 4 secretaries. The problem was health insurance. Under the new firm's new rules we were not eligible for their health insurance coverage for the 6 month probationary period (I had actually worked for the firm in their New York office and was eligible starting the first day of the next month after I started, but they decided to change things.). The partners of course were making big bucks and had no trouble affording the COBRA payments. However, we support staff had taken a pay cut when we agreed to move (No job vs. pay cut = no brainer decision). We managed to get the partners to agree to give us a portion of the COBRA payments for 6 months. I have rarely been more relieved to see 6 months go by as I was then. The new health insurance wasn't as good, but at least I didn't have to pay out of pocket for it any longer. COBRA health insurance is way too expensive for the majority of Americans and I'm glad that President Obama is pointing that out.

[Woodlands Democrat]

19. COBRA IS A JOKE!

When I was terminated for being hurt on the job, I was offered COBRA. Premium went from $244 a month to &1500 a month. How does a person on unemployment afford a premium more than a months worth of unemployment payment?

I'm afraid Obama is just giving lip service to the working poor, and will continue to support business as usual.

[fifthoffive]

18. AMEN!

When I was laid off years ago, I was lucky. I could get medical insurance through my spouse's employer. If I had to purchase COBRA, I would have had to go without medical insurance. It's way too expensive.

COBRA is just a bad joke on working Americans.

[Laelth]

20. K&R for the TRUTH. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[chill_wind]

23. Good for him to tell it like it is. It IS a joke. K & R

[1monster]

24. Not only that, but if you try to use it, they will use any and every plausible and unplausible

excuse to deny or delay payment.

I got one that said my child was not my child if he wasn't living with me... (Actually, my stepchildren, but when I requested clarification, I was told that).

They kept up that line of reasoning until I told them, "Fine. I happen to know the law regarding this and I'll see you in court. By the way, be prepared to shell out a whole lot more than the $20,000 medical bills currently due. Because I'll be suing you for all legal fees and for failure to show good faith and that will cost you major big bucks."

I got a phone call the next day from the insurance department telling me that while they stood by their policy decision, they were "making an exception" in my case.

"Yeah, whatever you want to call it," I said, "as long as you pay it."

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.