Thanks to president Obama I just saved $520 a month on my cobra insurance.

[littlebit]

My girlfriend was laid off from her job last oct. Her cobra insurance premium for both of us was $800 a month. We received a letter in the mail yesterday saying she qualified for the premium subsidy. She called the insurance company and they told her her new cost will be about $285 a month. Plus I will be getting back a big chunk of what I have already paid in. I honestly didn't think any of the stimulus bill was going to affect me. But I guess it did in a good way. Thank you Obama.

[babylonsister]

1. Great to hear. My sis-in-law is anxiously awaiting her savings. nt

[littlebit]

5. I hope she gets it soon.

This was a nice surprise for us.

[The Wielding Truth]

2. Yes! Now we must still be patient and support the captain and

watch the ship turn.

[littlebit]

7. Exactly

[Adelante]

3. But that's not change we can believe in

;)

Happy for you :thumbsup:

[littlebit]

8. Thank you.

[Lance_Boyle]

4. Dammit I thought this was a GI Joe thread. n/t

[littlebit]

10. LOL...

[angstlessk]

6. WOW...520 per month...month over month...ads up to a chunk of change

'change' that is! Gee you can probably afford hamburger meat on occasion and get off the ramin noodles?

on edit...of course if you are a vegitarian...some tofu on occasion?

[littlebit]

12. I might have to go crazy and

buy a couple of steaks.

[angstlessk]

13. I would!!...there are so many meats that are fricking delicious

...have at it!!!!

[WI_DEM]

9. Of course with some here you would think he hasn't done anything to help anyone.

[littlebit]

14. I'll admit I was a little skeptical.

But i'm not now. Girlfriend started getting her extra $25 a week on unemployment a few weeks ago and now this. I can honestly say now that I see the change.

[peace13]

11. Great, I am happy for you! n/t

[littlebit]

20. Thank you

[SpartanDem]

15. good for you

isn't change great?

[littlebit]

19. Yes it is

[Hekate]

16. I'm SO glad for you. I always thought COBRA was a cruel joke for the unemployed....

I have just one favor to ask: could you write a brief letter to the newspaper and the MSM's talking heads to tell them this good news? You don't have to -- it's just a thought.

Best wishes with the job search for her and less tightening of the belt for you both. :hi:

Hekate

[littlebit]

18. We didn't have much of a choice when she was laid of.

We had to pay it. She was right in the middle of chemo. The alternative would have left us busted. I'll see if she will write a letter. She is a lot better at writing than I am. :hi:

[Hekate]

23. I completely understand why people *must* pay it; it's just the outrageous amount.

I hope good health returns to her forever -- and you too.

Hekate

[littlebit]

28. Thanks

She is doing better. She's almost back to her old self.

[glitch]

17. K & R nt

[Blue Diadem]

21. I think we're saving a similar amount.

I have to say a big thanks to President Obama too.

[no limit]

22. $800 for insurance? You're fucking kidding right?

[annabanana]

25. Sadly, no.

This is what you are offered to "continue" your coverage after you are laid off.

[SoCalDem]

26. In 1996 when WE had COBRA, our premium was $850 a month

We had to pay it or have NO insurance due to pre-existing conditions..18 long months until my husband's new job gave us insurance we could afford again..If we had not been carpayment-free we could have never done it..

[littlebit]

29. Honestly if girlfriend wasn't already sick we wouldn't have done it.

This is kind of a messed up way to think but I am glad she was diagnosed before she was laid off. I really don't know what we would have done if it happened just a few months later.

[littlebit]

27. No i'm not.

That was my first reaction when she got the cobra info last year. Ridiculous isn't it.

Also that was for both of us. I was on her plan under domestic partnership.

[SoCalDem]

24. Which tells us that the insuance "should" cost about $300 a month

and the companies are ripping everyone off..
This is the best part of the stimulus...and affects people at the most important level..

My son will be getting a break on his too.. He was laid off 6 weeks ago..

[Withywindle]

30. Me too!

And basically, it's the difference between being able to afford health coverage and not. I'm single, I don't have anyone to help out, and usually single lower-middle-class adults fall between the cracks. Obama has actually directly helped me personally a very significant way.


Your title gives me a mental image of Obama as the Geico gecko. :)

[littlebit]

32. LOL..

I was thinking that too after I typed it. :-)

[Stinky The Clown]

31. For how long will that rate last?

Is the cobra subject to expiration such that, if no employment, you have to buy your insurance on the open market at individual rates?

[New Earth]

33. from what I understand

and I could be wrong - this subsidy thing ends in December 2009 :/ So in January 2010 the rates will "change", according to the paper I got, which I think means they go back up to regular price. If I am wrong, someone please correct me so I know for myself too!

[littlebit]

35. Ours says up to 3/10.

I would like to know too.

[littlebit]

34. If I understood girlfriend right

we have up to 18 months. So I think we have 11 or 12 months left. Hopefully by then she has another job. If not we will have to get private insurance.

[felinetta]

36. Glad to hear it! Great news!

[Uzybone]

37. Very glad to hear..thats a good amount of money