ykwgmg : healthcare stuff

remember when the stimulus bill was passed back in march? it was full of lots of helpful solutions intended to assist the growing number of unemployed. included in the bill was a healthcare subsidy, in which the government covered roughly 65% of monthly COBRA costs. unfortunately, as many are finding out the hard way, the subsidy was only scheduled to last for 9 months, ending in a couple of weeks.

From March through November, the federal government picked up 65 percent of the cost. But the subsidy lasts for only nine months and will not be available to people who lose their jobs after Dec. 31, unless Congress extends it. On Wednesday, the House approved a six-month extension, and the bill now goes to the Senate.

The end of the subsidy can be particularly hard on families that are covered by a single health-insurance policy. Families USA, a nonprofit organization that lobbies for affordable health care, said the average monthly premium for a family covered by Cobra was $1,111, meaning that the subsidy was saving the typical family more than $700 a month.

In some states, the average unemployment benefit is smaller than the average cost of Cobra benefits, said Ron Pollack, the executive director of Families USA.

“This makes it clear that the people subsisting on unemployment benefits are very unlikely to be able to afford their Cobra premium,” Mr. Pollack said. (via)

i'll tell you what, that really gobbles my goop. COBRA is a failing system as it is. it's defined as 'continued coverage', making individuals eligible for the 'discounted group rate' that employers recieve. when i was unemployed, i couldn't afford it, even after the subsidy went into effect. i was uninsured for a year, and most of my unemployed friends are in the same position. and now, millions of americans who are taking advantage of the subsidy are about to have their monthly payments tripled. so, fingers crossed for that 6-month subsidy extension.



and while i'm at it...
speaking of failing systems, the increasingly disappointing healthcare bill getting pushed through congress is looking more and more like governement-subsidized-COBRA-for-all than medicare-for-all. in an interesting new development, howard dean and many other democratic leaders are calling for the abandonment of the current senate healthcare bill altogether, saying it does not represent real reform. i pretty much agree.

so those are some of my opinionz. you're welcome! ;(