Obama Stimulus Plan: COBRA provisions for unemployed workers

I started my Cobra when I Retired in July 2008. I Moved to Florida from NJ,August 2008. I did not think finding a job would be diffacult. Well, I am still unemployed, and my Cobra runs out the end of this month. I have been paying $499.00 a month on a pension of $1348.00 a month. Not much left to live on and if I convert to an Individual plan, I'm sure it would be more. All I see are people who have been "laid off". What about someone like myself who retired, cannot find a job, and my age (51) is too young for other programs? Thanks in Advance

Hi,

I heard the following "Under Obama's Stimulus Package, you might be eligible for reduced premiums in which the federal government will reimburse employers 65% of the COBRA premium and charge you only 35% of the COBRA premium."

1) Does it mean the employer or employee pay 100% premium upfront, then get reimbursed later? If yes, when and how should the employer get this 65% amount reimbursed?
2) OR should the employee pay 35% of premium so that there is no need for any reimbursement?
3) Also, does this plan really have any limitation on the number of employees in the company? Even if the company has less than 20 employees, but they offer COBRA, can I not utilize this new stimulus COBRA plan?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

This is the last month for my cobra stimulus help then it goes back up to $425.00 a month just for Health insurance nothing else..I am not old enough for medicare and paying this high amount is way out of my league..I lost my job because i had back surgery and wasnt back within the 12 weeks family leave time..My question is is there a continuation of the Cobra Stimulus plan where i would only have to pay the 35%..any help will be greatly appreciated.

If my company terminates me because I dont qualify for
FMLA and I have been on medical leave, would I qualify for the stimulus for health insurance?

My husband was laid off in 6-6-2008. He has been on COBRA ever since paying exorbitant rates. His COBRA will expire at the end of this year 2009. He has looked for health insurance and can not find anything that does not have a pre-existing clause. Is there an extension that he is entitled to or possibly a hardship clause that he might fall into?

He is 61 and still unemployed. Please direct us to where we might find some help.
Thank you
Gail

I lost my job July 2008 and am still unemployed. I only worked at a company for a couple of years, am a single parent and cannot find a job in my industry. My cobra expires in a couple of months and I will have no insurance or unemployment benefits. Is it possible under the new bill to a) get an extension b) get an reduction in payment.
Thank you,

Marina

Beth - the plan is now a law and it is in effect. The lowering of the COBRA expenditure by 65% will take effect from March 1 onwards. So you should be covered.

I was reading Obama's cobra plan for unemployed/fired workers, and it stated that if you are 55 years or older, or have been with the company for 10 years or more you have the cobra plan coverage permanently. Not just for 9 months... Is this true??

Thank you,
Erin

My son had shoulder surgery in December 2008. Non-work related. He initially had some disability benefits though Aflac however that has run out. He has now been notified he will need to pay $400.00 a month to keep his Cobra benefits in force. With no income, this is impossible. He will be released to return to work in 2 moths. Would he be eligible for this new benefit.

Though we're physically in Canada, our U.S. employer have laid us off last December. Most of us worked between 2-9 years with the company. Would we be able to benefit from this COBRA proposal? We're not very familiar with this.. can you share some light on this? Thanks

I was laid off in 10/08 and I got two months severance insurance through my employer. November and December 2008. Since I never have been through this before.. I thought that my insurance was just paid through that time. Wrong. I had a small contribution that would normally be deducted from my pay. Problem was.. I never got anything from COBRA telling me this (I am finding this is all too common); so my benefits were terminated 10/31 because of non payment. I never got anything! The only way am I communicating with cobra is that another one of my friends laid off before me got a huge bill from all of her doctors because insurance took back the payments. After hearing what happened to her; I contacted Cobra 5x and finally got some answers. I am on the hook to pay 92 for November and December (my portion after the severance payments).. but they are charging me 412 per month for January, February, and March. And they say I have to pay 1400 by 4/24 in order to continue my benefits.

Shouldn't I only be paying 35% of Cobra for February and March due to Obama's plan? How are they charging me the full rate? Since I didn't go to the doctor in February and March.. can I just pay for Nov and Dec (when I did go to the doctor bc I thought I was covered) ; not pay for Jan and Feb.. and pay 35% for March and forward due to the plan? Does this make sense? Sorry it's so long.

Thanks

I lost my job in March 2009. Will I qualify to receive cobra stimulus benefits? How much will I have to pay for my part and how long?

I am not saying that this is the ideal way out.. but there is a site which vets and evaluates the "Work from Home" deals in the market and shares which ones are scams and which ones are not. They have a list of jobs/work/businesses that one can pursue from home which pay and are for real!

Check out on this page: http://www.drishtikone.com/?q=blog/staffcentrix-vet-out-work-home-deals

KUDO'S to you!!

I lost my job of 15 years back in Oct 2008. My husband doesn't have a plan so we will need cobra. We are both on daily medsand there are no generics for what we take either so it's lot's of $$$$$.

You and I and others in theis age bracket are in what I refer to as the 50-50 group. If you are 50 years old or more and you make 50 thousand a year or more, you are the first targets. First because you might have the bigger salary and second because our ago group tend to have more health related issues (regardless of how healthy and fit you are, it's a fact of life). ***I say we're are ill more because of all the damn stress, because of overwork and reduction in force that Corp America had forced us to work under over the years so they can make the money***

I'm tired of always getting screwed by someone. I did not ask to loos my job, but now, I will take advantage of EVERYTHING I can untill I can get another job!!

My husband was laid off January 15, 2009. We are still within the 60 days of opting for COBRA. My question is ~ do we have to pay the full rate of COBRA for February 1, March 1 and so on until this new stimulus kicks in? Or can we opt to start when the new rate is available? My husband's HR rep has no info on these new rates yet. Our regular COBRA rate is $1100/month. This is slightly impossible as I also have been laid off since May. Any info is appreciated!

I was laid off June 27, 2008 is there any way I can get the 35% COBRA benefit. I am single and having a hard time making ends meet because of the two month time period do I really loose it?

I was laid off in June 2008 and have been paying individual COBRA coverage at $450 per month. I could really use the financial help but the details say I won't be eligible because I lost my job before September? Is that fair???

I was laid off 11/15/08 and I did not elect to continue my health coverage through COBRA because of the cost. Since then my wife became pregnant. I'm exited about this new COBRA provisions for laid off individuals. However, I worry that Oxford will be denied coverage to my wife on the basis of a pre-existent condition.

I would appreciate any advice or comments from people who are facing the same situations.

Thank you.

Luis

Unfortunately,folks in Pennsylvania that are in my situation, that is where Cobra is not offered to us because we were employed by a company that had 20 or less employees, we lose again.
PA LAW BELOW:
Pennsylvania offers COBRA, the Consolidate Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. COBRA allows the person (and their dependents) enrolled in a group policy the right to continue in the group coverage on a temporary basis after the departure from an employer with 20 or more employees. COBRA does not apply if the employer terminated the plan. Also, if the employer goes out of business and cancels the plan or fails to pay the premium, the coverage stops and COBRA does not apply. Again, COBRA only applies when the group policy remains in force.
The simple fact is, we can't afford health care because of the cost factor, and we will get no help because of this state law.
What a wonderful place to live and pay taxes.

I am 57 years old and just lost my job. I had 15-1/2 years with the company. Like Donna whos husband has cancer, I have health issues also. Now I will be without health insurance. My husband is 70 years old and is on Medicare. Where do I go for my medications, labwork, Dr. checkups, and emergencies? I believe that a lot of companies are laying off the older employees because of the insurance costs. I agree with Obama's stimulus plan that all employees that are 55 years and older and have 10 or more years with the company should have permanent COBRA coverage until they are placed on Medicare. I sure hope we get National Health Care. Why should people have to worry to death about where they are going to get their medications or health care? All of the years that I have worked, I have helped pay health insurance for government workers, prisoners, and medicaid recipients. I don't mind helping others, but now I need the help and who is going to help me???? It is bad enough to lose your job, have your wages lost ( Unemployment doesn't pay much ), and lose your health coverage. We really need to find a way of turning thing around. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to vent. Debbie

This is a great provision for those who were recently laid off. By covering 60% of costs (employers normally cover 80%) it will take a big headache off workers looking for a job.

my husband has cancer, was laid off december 2nd 2008,
his age is 57
cobra takes 1/3 off unemployment benefits
what can we do to participate in other programs?

Thank You!
Donna