In any Townhall, the very first question should be - how many of you here are on Medicare or VA?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Followed by:

How many get coverage through your employer?

How many on COBRA?

How many of you work and are uninsured?

How many of you are uninsured or have family members who are uninsured?

Let THAT frame further discussion!

[enough]

1. Like all good ideas, this has the ring of simple truth. Thanks. (nt)

[jwirr]

2. Are you satisfied with Medicare or VA or COBRA?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. COBRA is not a government program

It is simply a law that allows people to maintain their group coverage for a finite period of time at full cost when employment has ended. The majority of people seem to find it too expensive to maintain. (I don't know that for a fact, it's just my impression. I'm sure a fairly large number of the uninsured are the unemployed who can't afford COBRA costs)

[waiting for hope]

7. Cobra is outrageous - it's like 10 x's more than what

you were paying if getting insurance through your employer .. and the fact that you are unemployed figures into for those who can't pay. Food and housing seem to come first ... :banghead:

[csziggy]

8. Is the Obama Stimulus subsidy for COBRA still available?

It is supposed to pay something like 65% of COBRA. It is still expensive as hell though.

What COBRA shows is how expensive health insurance really has gotten. It IS unreasonable, which is why we need real health care reform with a public, preferably single payer, option.

[waiting for hope]

12. Here:

The federal government will pay 65% of COBRA premiums for employees who are laid off from Sept. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2009. The subsidy will extend for nine months. However, individuals with an annual adjusted gross income of more than $125,000 and couples with an adjusted gross income of more than $250,000 will not be eligible for the subsidy.

Obama signs stimulus bill providing COBRA subsidy

[csziggy]

13. Thanks - I hope that will help some.

We're lucky enough that we don't need it - now. My hubby survived this round though he went on COBRA in 2001. The amount was worth it since the next year I had two surgical procedures, which more than made it worth keeping the insurance.

[cynatnite]

3. Common sense will get you booed. n/t

[tabatha]

4. Yes, and then explain which programs are government programs.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. or have children, nieces and nephews, grandkids on Chip, or have a family member on

medicade, medicare, or VA

They should have them fill out a small card with name address and coverage situation, what your concerns or questions are.

Then they take the ticket and an event volunteer makes a large name tag for each attendee. If you want to ask a question or make a comment, you tell them on your way in so they can have your card ready.







then use that card to get in, like a ticket.

Just info so your representative knows more about you and your concerns as regards health care.

[havocmom]

9. How many of you got here on those evil, socialist public roads?

Oh, it is too easy to beat them with logic. That's why they don't let us get a word in edgewise at the town halls. They learned the technique watching Bill-O

[ColbertWatcher]

10. Good idea.

Maybe follow it up with, how many own your own business?

How many have jobs?

[Historic NY]

11. You forgot the ultimate Socialst program Social Security....

we need to find out how many want to opt out of these socialist programs immediately so we can cut taxes.

[mdmc]

14. kick