economic stimulus and health insurance

[Guest guest]

I don't know if any of you were following the thread on the economic stimulus

package that was not even considered by the Senate, but I wrote a letter to

my congressman about my situation (being laid off and on COBRA) Here is a

copy of what he wrote back - the reason I am sending this is to notify any

of you who are in the same situation that I am in to write your senators and

congressmen about the health insurance situation. I can't believe the

Republicans want to make the individual purchase an individual health

insurance policy! Most of us *know* how hard it is to get individual

policies, how much more it costs and how much *less* if offers, mostly *no*

wls possibilities! I would hope that the Democrats could get their take on

this passed, as getting 75% help to pay that COBRA would be a great help,

since it takes about half of what you get in unemployment monthly to pay

COBRA and the unemployment is *already* half of what your wages were when

earning an income!

I am not wanting to get into a political debate over this. I am an

independent, and I appreciate the President more than I could say, but this

affects *us* and possibly the employed workers of America in the future if

the government doesn't want the employers to provide health insurance in the

future - what I can see is, if employers can find a *way* to get out of

offering it, they will discontinue those benefits.

Just thought you might like to know.

Carole

Dear Ms. Broderick:

Thank you for writing. I am sorry to hear of your recent

unemployment and the financial burden you face in securing health

insurance for you and your family.

Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are debating how

best to provide health-care assistance for the unemployed in the

economic stimulus bill. As the senior Democrat on the Energy and

Commerce Health Subcommittee, I have joined my colleagues in

pushing for a 75 percent COBRA subsidy for COBRA-eligible

workers and federal assistance for state Medicaid programs to help

unemployed workers not eligible for COBRA.

The Republicans want to provide a 50 percent tax credit to help

laid-off workers to buy coverage. Unemployed workers would

receive a voucher or certificate to help cover the cost. This is a

fundamental shift in the way health insurance is delivered and would

be the first step toward separating the link between employer and

health care coverage for workers. I am also concerned that the subsidy

would be insufficient to purchase meaningful coverage.

As this debate continues, please be assured I will fight for affordable

health insurance for unemployed individuals. Thank you again for

writing.

Sincerely,

SHERROD BROWN

Member of Congress

2438 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Sherrod@...