So, on the LAST day of the month...Cobra sends us this information- $300 increase in coverage.

[BeHereNow]

Now mind you, we have already sent them a payment for the
month of January for $500 dollars.
Now they are telling us we need to send them an additional $300
dollars for the January coverage to take effect.
ON the day before January- AFTER they have already taken our
payment for January.
HOW is this legal?
It feels like extortion to me.
I want to get out of the US.
We are so "screwn."
BHN

[Warren Stupidity]

1. That's because the lunatic party refused to extend the cobra subsidy.

If it affected billionaires it would be a different story.

[BeHereNow]

6. FUCKERS!

I'm so pissed off right now...
They FORCE people to turn to disability by taking measures like this.
My daughter and I would both be eligible- so maybe that's
what I'll do.
I considered $500 a month high, but $800???
I mean WTF?
Fortunately my GP is a great guy and when I told him
we were losing our insurance, he said "No problem"
just come in and I'll charge you $85 for an office visit
and give you what ever treatment you need under that.

The fear factor is what made us decide to get Cobra-
Fear of catastrophic illness or accident- my daughter is high risk
for that type of thing. (Bi Polar disorder- HIGH cost medications every month)

This country SUCKS when it comes to medical care unless
you are a millionaire.

BHN

[abelenkpe]

13. When did that happen?

Surprised this isn't bigger news.

[valerief]

2. They run the country. They can do whatever they want and our military will defend them. nt

[limpyhobbler]

3. COBRA premiums are a scandal in this country. How can someone who is unemployed be expected to pay

Last edited Sat Dec 31, 2011, 07:23 PM - Edit history (1)

so much for insurance. And that's if they don't even get sick. If they go to the doctor they will have copays and deductibles. I think the COBRA actually costs more the the total of the employer contribution plus the employee contribution that was paid when the person was still working. I understand when COBRA was created it was supposed to be there to help people as a short-term gap coverage but real life is that people can't afford it. I have close relatives that are being forced to choose between health insurance and food and heat. COBRA costs too much!


---
(edited to add 'un' to the subject line)

[tammywammy]

9. From my dealings with COBRA it was the cost of employee + employer only

I think the problem is that people don't know how much their company is paying toward their health insurance. That's why people are so shocked when they get their COBRA statement. At least where I work now I can see how much my employer pays toward my insurance cost. It wouldn't be a shock if I became suddenly unemployed and needed COBRA, I know already that it would cost around $600/month.

[BeHereNow]

12. We are self employed-

AS long as my husband garners a certain amount of union work in a given period,
we have insurance.
Well, there are NO union jobs in his field at the moment.
And due to my daughter's illness, I lost my permanent employment
and insurance and was reduced to the scores of the "under employed."
This country is dead to me at this point.
I see no reason to live here any longer.
BHN

[BeHereNow]

10. The cost is complete highway robbery.

They get away with it because they know people fear
losing everything in the event of an unexpected emergency.
I'm ready to LEAVE this country and live somewhere where
my tax dollars actually work for my well being, and not that of the
MIC, Congress and the 1%.
BHN

[pinto]

4. This may be a good resource for your coverage situation -

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html

[BeHereNow]

8. Excellent! Thank you for those links! n/t

bhn

[pinto]

11. You're welcome. Good luck with it all.

(aside) It pays to ask for clarification all the way up the bureaucratic line.

[Scuba]

5. Mass murder for profit. n/t

[WillyT]

7. Amerika... What A Country...