Today I found out that my best friend, currently unemployed due to layoffs, is being helped by the COBRA part of the stimulus package.
In December 2008, my friend had to have a hysterectomy for endometrial cancer (Stage 1, Level 2). Fortunately, the surgery was all she needed, as the cancer was entirely contained in the uterus. She also had Blue Cross/Blue Shield through her employer, which has indeed paid the majority of her medical bills.
When she returned to work the last week of January 2009, she and 6 other employees were laid off, meaning my friend was going to have to come up with COBRA payments because there's no way she can afford a break in coverage with a diagnosis like cancer. Her monthly payment was to be $420 a month.
She received her tax return, and used $840 dollars of it to pay the COBRA premium for February and March. Yesterday, she found out from her employer that those two payments of $420 were going to pay her COBRA through OCTOBER 2009!! Because of the COBRA provision in the stimulus bill!
While she's still unemployed, at least she no longer has to worry about whether or not she has insurance (at least until October). She can use the $420 a month she would have had to spend on COBRA for things like food, rent, gas so she can get to interviews, phone so she can be contacted for interviews, etc.
This has taken a HUGE load of worry off her shoulders. She has some breathing room to try and find SOME sort of employment. It makes it easier for her to put in the effort of applying and interviewing, because it's one less thing to worry about.
Thank you, President Obama. Thank you, Democrats in Congress. Finally, the government has done something that actually helps someone I know.
It gives me hope for the future.