Who was responsible for gutting the Cobra and cutting the medical payment provisions out of the final Stimulus bill?
The inclusion of the substantial Cobra subsidy and the extension of medical care payments through Medicare for unemployed and injured people was a huge item for rural communities. Our rural medical clinics and hospitals have enough stress on them and our counties pay for indigent care through use of property taxes.
The Diane Rehm show and the New York times have had stories about the "cuts" made, but no one seems to discuss who made those cuts? Were they made by the Republicans whose votes were needed or by Democrats at the insistence of Republicans or lobbyists?
The New York Times had the following Q and A, but nothing about who took out the Cobra and Medicare provisions:
Q. Can you tell me if the House provision regarding the long-term employees (10 years or age 55) and their eligibility for Cobra made it into the final bill? I can’t find any references to it, which I guess says something. — George Baker, Boise, Idaho
Q. Does it still contain the provision that those forced out of their jobs after Sept. 1, 2008, and did not elect Cobra, will have an additional 60-day period to elect Cobra? — Dennis S., San Diego
A. For those unfamiliar with Cobra, it’s the law that requires your company to provide you with health benefits for up to 18 months or so after you are fired or leave your job voluntarily. Unfortunately, it’s not free. It can often cost more than $1,000 a month, especially if you are seeking coverage for your entire family.
A provision in the House bill would have made Cobra health benefits available to workers on the job for more than 10 years and those older than 55 until they were eligible for Medicare, but it was not included in the final draft.
The period in which Cobra benefits can be requested was extended, however, and the stimulus bill eases the cost burden. To summarize, I’ll point you to Ron Lieber’s most recent Your Money column.
The federal government will subsidize 65 percent of the premium for up to nine months. To be eligible, you need to have been forced out of your job between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. Also, your income in the year you receive the subsidy cannot be more than $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for married couples filing their taxes jointly.
If you lost your job after Sept. 1, 2008, and declined Cobra coverage, you’ll now get another chance. Call your former company in the next two months to find out how this will work.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Diane Rehm, on February 17, 2009, had a great panel on it, but again, I did not hear who took out these provisions or why?
http://wamu.org/...
drshow@wamu.org
Does anyone know if these Cobra and Medicare provisions, as originally proposed, are to be in some future legislation? If so, I hope it is widely supported and not left behind as it was in the Stimulus Bill signed in Denver.