Uncertainty Over New Health Safety Net For Jobless

[Purveyor]

(03-02) 06:15 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

Cassandra J. Kelsey has tried to cut back on all her expenses since losing her job in January. But suffering from degenerative arthritis, she can't do without health care.

That's why the 55-year-old District of Columbia resident was excited when President Barack Obama's economic stimulus bill included a provision to slash costs for laid-off workers' health insurance.

And that's why she was distressed to learn that, because the Obama administration has yet to tell employers exactly how to make the benefit work, it'll be weeks or months before she can claim it.

"I don't know how I'm going to make it," Kelsey said.

At issue is a program known as COBRA that allows workers to keep their company's health insurance plan for 18 months after they leave their job, if they pay the premiums.

The policies are so expensive that only a minority of eligible workers sign up, and they are often those with medical conditions that demand attention. Costs for a family of four can top $1,000 per month.

MORE...

AP: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/01/national/w043519S75.DTL