Comments on: Stimulus Aims To Help Laid Off Workers Retain Health Insurance http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/ Research and discussion of the Colorado health insurance industry and the healthcare crisis in America. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-14263 Louise Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:55:28 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-14263 Ken, I'm sorry about the difficulties you're experiencing. This is absolutely a "crack" in the ARRA program. It's also an issue for people who get laid off because their entire company goes out of business - in that case, the health insurance gets dropped and there's no COBRA for any of the employees - and no assistance from ARRA. Cover Colorado has a discount program available for people who have less than $50,000 in household income. I don't know if you're in that category or not, but if you are you can apply for the discount when you submit an application for coverage. Please note that Cover Colorado has a six month pre-existing condition waiting period for all applicants who have been uninsured for 90 or more days prior to getting Cover Colorado. So if you do decide to go with Cover Colorado, you'll want to make sure that your wife isn't uninsured for longer than 90 days between the end of her old policy and the start of Cover Colorado. Best of luck. Ken,
I’m sorry about the difficulties you’re experiencing. This is absolutely a “crack” in the ARRA program. It’s also an issue for people who get laid off because their entire company goes out of business – in that case, the health insurance gets dropped and there’s no COBRA for any of the employees – and no assistance from ARRA.
Cover Colorado has a discount program available for people who have less than $50,000 in household income. I don’t know if you’re in that category or not, but if you are you can apply for the discount when you submit an application for coverage. Please note that Cover Colorado has a six month pre-existing condition waiting period for all applicants who have been uninsured for 90 or more days prior to getting Cover Colorado. So if you do decide to go with Cover Colorado, you’ll want to make sure that your wife isn’t uninsured for longer than 90 days between the end of her old policy and the start of Cover Colorado.
Best of luck.

]]> By: ken http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-14261 ken Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:25:54 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-14261 The stimulus kind of forgot something: My wife was laid off in Nov.'09 and immediately took COBRA. With the ARRA help on her premiums,everything was ok. then,last week,her former company DROPPED it's healthcare. guess what? NO MORE COBRA and therefore NO MORE ARRA HELP! the company pretty much told her in their letter that she was on her own to find another policy. ok, so she tries to get another policy but with her "pre-existing" condition (heart), only "cover colorado" will even talk to her and the premium we'll have to come up with are outrageous. you'd think that the ARRA help would carry over but nobody seemed to think of this scenario I guess. sounds like we're SOL,right? tnx, The stimulus kind of forgot something: My wife was laid off in Nov.’09 and immediately took COBRA. With the ARRA help on her premiums,everything was ok. then,last week,her former company DROPPED it’s healthcare. guess what? NO MORE COBRA and therefore NO MORE ARRA HELP! the company pretty much told her in their letter that she was on her own to find another policy. ok, so she tries to get another policy but with her “pre-existing” condition (heart), only “cover colorado” will even talk to her and the premium we’ll have to come up with are outrageous. you’d think that the ARRA help would carry over but nobody seemed to think of this scenario I guess. sounds like we’re SOL,right?

tnx,

]]> By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-14082 Louise Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:06:27 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-14082 Sabrina, There are ways to extend Cobra beyond the initial 18 months, but there are very specific conditions that must be met. Here's a website with details: http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/health/employer/c11.htm?c=YNYNNYNYNNYNYY&CHNMW= If you're in Colorado, you can apply for Cover Colorado for your daughter (requires that Cobra coverage be exhausted in order to qualify). Here's their link with more information: www.covercolorado.org If you're outside of Colorado, you could check with your state division of insurance to see if there is high risk pool coverage available in your state. Best of luck to you and your family. Sabrina,
There are ways to extend Cobra beyond the initial 18 months, but there are very specific conditions that must be met. Here’s a website with details:
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/health/employer/c11.htm?c=YNYNNYNYNNYNYY&CHNMW=
If you’re in Colorado, you can apply for Cover Colorado for your daughter (requires that Cobra coverage be exhausted in order to qualify). Here’s their link with more information:
http://www.covercolorado.org
If you’re outside of Colorado, you could check with your state division of insurance to see if there is high risk pool coverage available in your state.
Best of luck to you and your family.

]]> By: Sabrina Graves http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-14080 Sabrina Graves Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:31:56 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-14080 Is there a way to get an extention of Cobra after the 18 months? I have been unemployed for over a year now, but must keep the insurance for my Type I diabetic daughter. We pay $400 a month for Cobra coverage for her, but could not otherwise pay for her insulin or pump supplies without the coverage. I may not find employment and we are inching closer to the 18 month mark. Thanks for any help. Is there a way to get an extention of Cobra after the 18 months? I have been unemployed for over a year now, but must keep the insurance for my Type I diabetic daughter. We pay $400 a month for Cobra coverage for her, but could not otherwise pay for her insulin or pump supplies without the coverage. I may not find employment and we are inching closer to the 18 month mark.
Thanks for any help.

]]> By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-14021 Louise Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:27:38 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-14021 Andrea, I'm sorry your mom is going through such a tough time. The COBRA assistance is available to people who were laid off starting September 1 2008, through the end of this year. The stimulus package was set up so that the government will pay the subsidy directly to the COBRA administrator (your mom's former employer, in this case). She (or you) should contact her former employer and inquire about what can be done. The stimulus package allows workers who were laid off and initially declined COBRA to go back and re-enroll, but I'm not sure about the time-frames involved in that process. Again, contact your mom's former employer and ask if she can opt to elect COBRA now and get the subsidy. Good luck to both of you. Andrea,
I’m sorry your mom is going through such a tough time. The COBRA assistance is available to people who were laid off starting September 1 2008, through the end of this year. The stimulus package was set up so that the government will pay the subsidy directly to the COBRA administrator (your mom’s former employer, in this case). She (or you) should contact her former employer and inquire about what can be done. The stimulus package allows workers who were laid off and initially declined COBRA to go back and re-enroll, but I’m not sure about the time-frames involved in that process. Again, contact your mom’s former employer and ask if she can opt to elect COBRA now and get the subsidy. Good luck to both of you.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-14020 Andrea Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:31:52 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-14020 My mom has recently been admitted to a hospital I beleive due to her layoff in March of 2009. She lost her job, then her house, a dog and just most recently the condo she was renting went into foreclosure due to non payment of the landlord. When she was employed she had health insurance and was on medication for anxiety and depression. If you do not know, these medications should be taken properly and never stopped without being monitered by a physician. When she was laid off she was covered for a month by her employer and then left on her own after that. Without insurance you have to pay for doctors visits and prescriptions and without a job that is next to impossible. So as a result she could not afford her medication let alone a doctors vistit and is now severely depressed and suicidal from coming off the medication cold turkey along with very high blood pressure brought on by side effects from the medication that should have been monitered b the physician that she could no longer afford to see. What kind of assistance is out there for her as she is currently being hospitalized w/o any insurance. Does the stimulus package apply to her and if so how? My mom has recently been admitted to a hospital I beleive due to her layoff in March of 2009. She lost her job, then her house, a dog and just most recently the condo she was renting went into foreclosure due to non payment of the landlord. When she was employed she had health insurance and was on medication for anxiety and depression. If you do not know, these medications should be taken properly and never stopped without being monitered by a physician. When she was laid off she was covered for a month by her employer and then left on her own after that. Without insurance you have to pay for doctors visits and prescriptions and without a job that is next to impossible. So as a result she could not afford her medication let alone a doctors vistit and is now severely depressed and suicidal from coming off the medication cold turkey along with very high blood pressure brought on by side effects from the medication that should have been monitered b the physician that she could no longer afford to see. What kind of assistance is out there for her as she is currently being hospitalized w/o any insurance. Does the stimulus package apply to her and if so how?

]]> By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-13945 Louise Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:29:01 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-13945 Christina, Is it COBRA premiums that you have to pay back, or are you still employed there? If you quit your job (as opposed to being laid off), you wouldn't qualify for the stimulus assistance. I'm not familiar with a scenario where someone has to pay back seven months of premiums. Did you receive benefits under the plan this year? I'm curious as to why the plan remained in force if your premiums weren't paid up. If you didn't receive benefits this year, can you drop the policy and apply for individual coverage? Christina,
Is it COBRA premiums that you have to pay back, or are you still employed there? If you quit your job (as opposed to being laid off), you wouldn’t qualify for the stimulus assistance. I’m not familiar with a scenario where someone has to pay back seven months of premiums. Did you receive benefits under the plan this year? I’m curious as to why the plan remained in force if your premiums weren’t paid up. If you didn’t receive benefits this year, can you drop the policy and apply for individual coverage?

]]> By: Christina http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-13943 Christina Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:18:59 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-13943 I'm curious....I am just finishing up my maternity leave. I have to pay my premiums since the beginning of the year....the amount is outrageous and is going to be hard to pay back since I didn't work during that time. Is there help out there to help me pay for it. We can't afford to pay for it. Any help on where and what I need to do would be great. Thanks! I’m curious….I am just finishing up my maternity leave. I have to pay my premiums since the beginning of the year….the amount is outrageous and is going to be hard to pay back since I didn’t work during that time. Is there help out there to help me pay for it. We can’t afford to pay for it. Any help on where and what I need to do would be great. Thanks!

]]> By: Brock http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-13155 Brock Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:56:54 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-13155 It's a testament to the honesty of the American People that we aren't using the same healthcare subsidy that so many illegal aliens already have: showing up to an emergency room with a fake name, fake address, and no ID. If we were jerks, we could easily put a burden on existing healthcare facilities that would make them completely fail. What happened in the last thirty years that put seeing a doctor (and more importantly having an ongoing professional relationship with a doctor) out of reach of most Americans? The rise of the Health Insurance Middlemen and the slow erosion of middle class earning power. Everyone has to be a millionaire to get decent healthcare in America now. Its criminal. It’s a testament to the honesty of the American People that we aren’t using the same healthcare subsidy that so many illegal aliens already have: showing up to an emergency room with a fake name, fake address, and no ID. If we were jerks, we could easily put a burden on existing healthcare facilities that would make them completely fail.

What happened in the last thirty years that put seeing a doctor (and more importantly having an ongoing professional relationship with a doctor) out of reach of most Americans? The rise of the Health Insurance Middlemen and the slow erosion of middle class earning power. Everyone has to be a millionaire to get decent healthcare in America now. Its criminal.

]]> By: Louise http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/02/17/stimulus-aims-to-help-laid-off-workers-retain-health-insurance/comment-page-1/#comment-13149 Louise Wed, 27 May 2009 18:01:25 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=1006#comment-13149 Raymond, If you go to the Department of Labor website, they have a page devoted to COBRA and the subsidy that is available: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html On the left side of the page there is a column of links under the heading "for employees". The first one is "review of subsidy denials". Click on that link and you'll see details about how to request a review if you've been denied access to the subsidy. The site includes all of the requirements that must be met, so that you can double check your case and make sure that you do indeed qualify. Then you send your review request and all supporting documents to the DOL. Good luck! Raymond,
If you go to the Department of Labor website, they have a page devoted to COBRA and the subsidy that is available:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html
On the left side of the page there is a column of links under the heading “for employees”. The first one is “review of subsidy denials”. Click on that link and you’ll see details about how to request a review if you’ve been denied access to the subsidy. The site includes all of the requirements that must be met, so that you can double check your case and make sure that you do indeed qualify. Then you send your review request and all supporting documents to the DOL. Good luck!

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