What People Think
 |
 |
97% For, 3% Against
Take Action
| Vote on this Bill | |
  |
For |
  |
Against |
| Speak Out | |
  |
Comment on this Bill |
  |
Alert Your Friends and Colleagues |
  |
Write Your Representative in Congress |
| Save & Share | |
 |
del.icio.us |
 |
Digg |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Yahoo! |
H.R. 3930, The Extended COBRA Continuation Protection Act of 2009 (32 comments ↓)
H.R. 3930 would extend for 6 months the maximum COBRA continuation coverage period for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between April 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, and to amend the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 to extend the eligibility period and maximum assistance period for COBRA premium assistance under such Act.
()
[577 views]
Learn More
RSS Feeds for This Bill
Keep yourself updated on user contributions and debates about this bill! (Learn more about RSS.)
Visitor Comments
JoeU
October 28, 2009, 5:29pm (report abuse)I read the text of the bill H.R. 3930, which I praise the Congressman highly for introducing, but it contains an inconsistency between the summary and the text:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3930:
The summary says the start date is April 1, 2009, but the body in Section 2 says April 1, 2008. The difference will affect millions of families. Will the bill cover April 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 or just from this April to the end of the year?
Marilyn Caruso
November 10, 2009, 1:13pm (report abuse)Will this bill be retroactive? My 9 months ends Nov 30, 2009 and my new job will not start benefits until Feb 1, 2010. I have 2 months without subsidy and cannot afford either to pay full amount $1700. or to go without health insurance for my family of 4.
randy cole
November 11, 2009, 12:50pm (report abuse)the prompt passing of this bill is crucial to me as I have been recently informed that my premium subsidy is terminating on Dec.1 my premium will triple and I am on unemployment and cannot pay that amount and also be able to put food on the table for my family! Something needs to be done and it needs to be done quickly.In my opinion the Insurance companys and banking industry are bringing this country to its knees.Its time for the american people to make a stand
amy
November 12, 2009, 4:24pm (report abuse)please pass this legislation promptly! we cannot be insured without it.
JMT
November 13, 2009, 8:42am (report abuse)Please pass the bill quickly. Many unemployed families are relying on this extended COBRA subsidy. This is a good use of our tax dollars because we are reinvesting in American families and their health & welfare. Thanks for introducing this Bill Representative Sestek.
Deborah Cooper
November 14, 2009, 3:34pm (report abuse)My husbands COBRA assistance benefits will expire on December 31, 2009, which if not extended, my husband and I will be without health insurance like millions of Americans. We cannot afford 1,000.00 per month. I urge passage of this bill immediately.
SKC
November 16, 2009, 1:54pm (report abuse)I need the subsidy also but even if not passed, would like to see a bill that would extend the time period for COBRA to 2 or 3 years. This extension does not cost the government.
JenG
November 16, 2009, 5:49pm (report abuse)Please pass this bill promptly and make it retroactive. My husbands COBRA subsidy expires this month, and we are really struggling to pay the full amount. Also, I think COBRA should be extended to at least medicare age for those over 60. This is important to those with pre-existing conditions which the insurance companies have chosen to deny, because, God forbid, there should be a claim!
StuartB
November 16, 2009, 5:56pm (report abuse)This bill must pass. My subsidy expires 12/1/09 and my wife is trying to recover from breast cancer. Without this subsidy, I can't afford to pay for her treatments.
Average Joe
November 17, 2009, 7:24am (report abuse)We must continue to provide assistance to these men and women until we see a significant decrease in unemployment. Failing to do so will add to the millions of uninsured who already cost our nation $100 billion in lost productivity and risk forcing hospitals and other health care providers to cut back on employment at a time when economic recovery is exceptionally vulnerable.
little red
November 17, 2009, 11:15am (report abuse)I don't understand why or how our government can take such excellent care of corporations and wealthy executives with bail outs when the core fabric of our country, the people, are having to go without basic necessities. Yes, I need the COBRA subsidy extension to continue. As of December 1, 2009 I will be without health insurance, something that has not happened to me in over 30 years. I implore our government to act promptly to pass this bill and make it law....please.
STEVECOUCH
(logged in user) November 17, 2009, 8:44pm (report abuse)OUT OF WORK SINCE JAN. MY FAMILY NEEDS THIS SINCE OUTRAGEOUS COBRA PREMIUM IS $1400
VS $500 WITH THE SUBSIDY
EVEN $500 IS TOUGH WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A PAYCHECK
Watching DC
November 18, 2009, 10:58am (report abuse)Millions more will be uninsured if this does not pass.
The insurance comapnies and former employers will NOT take anyone back after the premiums lapse.
Thank the likes of Sen McConnell, Sen Kyl, Rep Boehner, Rep Cantor, Misters Limbaugh and Beck if this does not pass in time to preserve essential COBRA health insurance coverage.
And they just started building another aircraft carrier on Monday. Aptly named after the Republican fop...Gerald R. Ford.
John M Nagy
November 18, 2009, 1:31pm (report abuse)Please pass this bill ASAP mine ends this month and I can not afford the $1000 a month bill for Cobra
Bill Hofrichter
November 18, 2009, 2:37pm (report abuse)I need the passage of this bill. My COBRA goes up in Deecember to $1071 versus the $355 I am paying. My unemployment is $1300/month and as I have been out of work foe 12 months my savings is gone. Please help me and others Congress.
Carole Garber
November 19, 2009, 10:21pm (report abuse)All of us who have lost our jobs due to the recession desperately need the COBRA subsidy to be extended - otherwise, many will have to go without health insurance. I pray that this bill passes.QU
Carla B
November 20, 2009, 9:51pm (report abuse)All the comments indicate how desperate people are. I call my Representatives every day to find out what they plan to do about HR3930. I never get a response other than nothing so far has happened. Please barrage your Representatives with phone calls and e-mails. We who are unemployed cannot afford to be without health insurance. But the government for the most part has shown their disdain for us. Otherwise this bill would have passed already, so that we wouldn't have to suffer every day trying to find if it will pass before Dec 1.
Gretchen
November 23, 2009, 8:10am (report abuse)Please pass this bill ASAP as it is crutial for unemployed people like myself to be able to afford benefits. Currently I pay $500.00 a month which will skyrocket to $2000.00 a month after 12/31 if this bill is not passed. Even more distressing is the fact that we do not qualify for any other gov't subsidised plan because we are not poor enough. I have worked hard all my life and am still willing to do so but there are no JOBS! 13% unemployment here and no relief in sight.
Derek M (SC)
November 23, 2009, 1:48pm (report abuse)I have written my congressman regarding this bill and my senators regarding S.2730. Keep the pressure on! Many of us lose this subsidy on 30 November. I lost my benefits when my employer forced me into an "independent contractor" status. I'm still working (actually more hours than before) but only on commission and no benefits. Can't afford almost $1000 per month for just my wife and me. We both have "pre-existing conditions" that need name brand prescription drugs periodic specialist care. We've looked at personal plans but premiums are extremely high for very limited coverage.
New Yorker
November 24, 2009, 3:08pm (report abuse)I am desperately awaiting passage of this legislation. When the subsidy expires, my monthly premium (covering only me) will rise to more than $750. I have written to my two U.S. senators and to the House member from my district, asking them to support the subsidy extension, and I haven't received a single response. Countless New Yorkers will suffer if the subsidy expires, but our Congressional delegation is unconscionably silent on this issue.
Tony L
November 24, 2009, 10:01pm (report abuse)PLEASE PASS THIS BILL.
I have been out of work living off unemployment and 401k. I just cashed out all of my retirement to pay for Cobra and Taxes this year and I will not have any money to cover Cobra if it goes to full price! My wife has quit her PT job and accepted a FT job at a lower pay rate just for the insurance but we have to wait 2 more months until her 90 day wait period is over. I lost a 78k job last year and have always paid my bills and taxes, now I feel like I am begger living off unemployment and praying for affordable insurance. If we were AIG I am sure this bill would have passed in a few days. GET THIS BILL MOVING NOW! Americans with families who are responsible are hurting!
Jay
November 25, 2009, 11:25am (report abuse)From previous comments, it is clear that while this bill needs immediate passage, our "representatives" are being completely unresponsive to their constituents and sitting on their collective -----. Let your Congressional "leaders" know your displeasure with their apparent lack of concern and that you and many others will be monitoring their handling of this measure. Also let them know that immediate passage will help boost our economy at this Holiday season if millions of unemployed and their families can spend their dollars on giving to others, rather than being forced to pay outlandish amounts to already-bloated insurance companies.
Daniel Silguero
November 25, 2009, 5:37pm (report abuse)I chose the "Public OptioN"
Paula
November 26, 2009, 12:02am (report abuse)WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN PASSED YET!!!!!
Lee
November 28, 2009, 11:26pm (report abuse)I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED SINCE JANUARY 2009. IF THIS COBRA EXTENSION DOES NOT PASS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR MY ENTIRE COBRA PAYMENT. PLEASE PASS THIS ASAP!!
JenG
November 29, 2009, 3:16pm (report abuse)We need this Cobra extension subsidy. This applies to people who have always been unemployed, and not to people who are looking for a handout. I find it upsetting that it has not been passed and no attention seems to be given to it. However, the Obama administration is bent on keeping people in their homes, those that should never have gotten a mortgage to begin with. I'm not speaking of those that legitimately qualified (i.e. good credit, adequate downpayment) but those who had no job and money to buy the house in the first place.
Judi B.
November 29, 2009, 7:10pm (report abuse)We need the cobra extension passed!!! We need health reform. See even tho we have cobra, alot of us, We the People" only the basic due we cannot or could not afford health insurance due to cost. See when we the people have a real health crisis, and time you pd co-pays, DED, OOP, cost of medication, alot of times high cost, we cannot do this and live. Not as a single or family. When all that I have memtion happens it has a direct inpact on each of us the business's and the ecomony and just cost more and more and this is why our country in in recession. See health insurance makes us decide to eat, live, etc. For when we fail and have to bankrupt due to health cost then it effects all of us "We the People" and so many of us has been threw this or will be going threw it. So please extend the cobra extension so we can at least try get back on our feet, and make health reform be passed for We The People. This may comment may seem mixed up, but that is how we all feel!!! Thank you!
Kay
November 30, 2009, 3:04am (report abuse)I was laid off from my job in May, 2009 (from a company owned by AIG). I was in the midst of taking chemotherapy for breast cancer. I need the passage of this bill! I also think COBRA should be extended to Medicare age for those over age 60. I will be 62 next month.
Mark D.
November 30, 2009, 3:08pm (report abuse)To our elected officials, PLEASE pass this bill as quickly as possible. Laid off in Feb. '09, our December COBRA payment, 1st without subsidy, will be how we spend our Christmas funds. Don't know how we will pay in January, especially with our medical insurannce rate increasing by 7%. HELP!
pete561953
December 1, 2009, 12:59pm (report abuse)The summary says the start date is April 1, 2009, but the body in Section 2 says April 1, 2008. The difference will affect millions of families. Will the bill cover April 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 or just from this April to the end of the year? my layoff date is feb 2009
John H
December 1, 2009, 5:30pm (report abuse)Please Pass this to ensure security for our family at a difficult time.
Lisa P.
December 2, 2009, 12:15pm (report abuse)Definitely agree with other comments. I too, at age 60, was laid-off, and am now on federal disability program benefits. Having to fight through a lawyer for short-term disability benefits from Metlife Ins., that should be applicable as illness occurred while still employed. COBRA payments increase to over 360 dollars per month for my self only as of January 2010. I could not qualify for unemplyment benefits due to disability. Waited over 6 months for qualification period for disability from federal government. Am surviving by spending down savings. COBRA extension is critical to me as a citizen. It's interesting that insurance companies such as AIG can pay bonuses in the millions. The accumulated wealth dispersals to a few are from the work-effort and payments of the majority of U.S. citizens from their working careers while earning definitely, a significant amount below 250,000 dollars annually.