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Extend Cobra Assistance Under ARRA

Target:
those who want extension of their subsidized cobra coverage
Sponsored by: 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) extending our subsidized cobra coverage for most of us ends in Nov 2009.  Lets petition to get an extension...please consider giving your actual signature. As no signature may not help.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) extending our subsidized cobra coverage for most of us ends in Nov 2009.  Lets petition to get an extension...please consider giving your actual signature. As no signature may not help.

"We the undersigned"
Would like an extension of the Cobra subsidies given under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  We are extremely grateful for the coverage to date but would like to see that this subsidized coverage which officially ends for most of us in November 2009 be extended.

Background on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA):
Provides for premium reductions and additional election opportunities for health benefits under Cobra. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage beginning on or after February 17, 2009 and lasts for up to nine months for those eligible for COBRA during the period beginning September 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009 due to an involuntary termination of employment that occurred during that period.

If you would like to support this cause please add your signature below. I will be forwarding this petition to John Kerry's office

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We signed the "Extend Cobra Assistance Under ARRA" petition!
# 295:
10:28 am PST, Nov 21, Name not displayed, Missouri
# 294:
6:05 am PST, Nov 21, Jonathan Thibault, Massachusetts
Please note that since I lost my job last January I have been unable to find gainful employment. My unenployment check does not cover my expenses right now. If I loose the ARRA assistance, I will have to stop paying my health insurance. I simply do not have enough money
# 293:
6:04 am PST, Nov 21, Carolyn Morehead, Kentucky
please extend the cobra, my husband has sugar diabetes and no one will cover him,
# 292:
2:30 pm PST, Nov 20, Kimberly Levinson, Texas
Insurance is hard enough for people to keep without cutting off those who lose their jobs. Please show some compassion and let them continue their insurance.
# 291:
1:36 pm PST, Nov 20, Karen Culpepper, Florida
Just knowing that there are so many people who are struggling to provide for themselves and their families ought to be enough to sign this petition. While our government is trying to find a way to provide health care to anyone that wants it, doesn't it make sense to help the folks asking for the COBRA-ARRA extension? Haven't people lost enough? If you have a job and benefits - think about what it would be like if you didn't.... and then sign for the extension.
# 290:
12:19 pm PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Connecticut
# 289:
11:43 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, New York
I was downsized in March, 2009 although, I am still listed active until 1/15/10. JPMorgan claims that I do not quality for the Obama Government Cobra Insurance program since it expires on 12/09 and was also told that I need to pay the full amount of $1,400 per month which I cannot afford to pay. Will the Cobra program be offered by the government in 2010 to qualify people like me? Insured and still looking for work.
# 288:
10:56 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, New Hampshire
My former employer previously covered 75% of my health insurance premium. Being unemployed, the ARRA subsidy of COBRA is the only thing that has allowed me to maintain this coverage. Being in my ninth month of ARRA-subsidized coverage and still unemployed means I will have to go without health insurance coverage come December. Please, please help us get an extension to this critical subsidy! Thank you.
# 287:
9:02 am PST, Nov 20, Toni Galofaro, New Jersey
It's been almost a year since the law firm I worked for closed its doors. I've applied to numerous businesses and personnel agencies and received only two interviews. Even temporary positions are few. The subsidized COBRA has been very helpful in keeping me financially afloat. Loss of the subsidy will a huge chunk of unemployment funds going to health insurance. I don't want to give it up, but may have to if it comes to a choice of keeping my home or keeping health insurance.
# 286:
8:23 am PST, Nov 20, Joey Benghiat, California
Having just been laid off from work, not having my COBRA subsidized is going to be an extreme hardship for me and my family. Please extend the coverage. Joey Benghiat
# 285:
4:40 am PST, Nov 20, Name not displayed, Germany
# 284:
8:38 pm PST, Nov 19, Stan Feldman, Missouri
# 283:
3:35 pm PST, Nov 19, Jenifer Vogt, Florida
My COBRA subsidy ends in November and my premium will increase from dramatically. I'm a Cancer survivor and I need the coverage. I hope that they will extend the COBRA subsidy.
# 282:
2:01 pm PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, New York
Please extend ==== I was corporate downsized and than suffered a heart attack. I have had put put 400 resumes and have had ONE interview. What am I to do...
# 281:
1:22 pm PST, Nov 19, Diana Zelman, Pennsylvania
Please help us retain our health insurance coverage. Without the subsidy many if not most of us will not be able to afford coverage and/or it will come at the expense of paying other bills like mortgages. Without this the crisis hitting our cities and towns will escalate beyond anything we have seen yet.
# 280:
12:38 pm PST, Nov 19, Amy Irvine, California
I have been declined for coverage for my family, simply because I list asthma on the application (yet, it is well-managed). I will have to pay more than $1800 to keep my COBRA next month, since I am still unemployed, only work part-time, and neither I nor my husband qualify for corporate benefits. PLEASE HELP!!!
# 279:
11:32 am PST, Nov 19, Amanda Lewis, Florida
# 278:
11:31 am PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, New York
i am being laid off 12.31 and therefore will not qualify. I cannot afford the COBRA payments without assistance. please extend this program. i need sometime to find employment. My medications w/o insurance are more than $900 and I need them to survive as I suffer from an autoimmune disease.
# 277:
10:24 am PST, Nov 19, Ruth Stern, Florida
Hope this one makes it as it's very needed.
# 276:
9:46 am PST, Nov 19, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 275:
9:02 am PST, Nov 19, Amie Lewis, Florida
It is terrible enough that 16 million people are unemployed, with little chance of getting another job despite their best efforts or the people who are not able to work due to confirmed disability by their doctors. But now, we are faced with losing our health care benefits because we can longer afford to pay for them. How can someone who is not working afford to pay the $1000 - $3000 /mth that is unconscionably being charged for premiums? Please extend the COBRA assistance program until such time as this country is out of our current economic crisis.
# 274:
8:33 am PST, Nov 19, Perry Schroeder, California
# 273:
8:26 am PST, Nov 19, Ellen Robson, Florida
i have an immune deficiency from sitting in an office for 15 years breathing air borne black toxic mold and contaminated air. i now receive gamma transfusions every month which cost 6,000 per month. my health insurance has gone up to $2400.00 per month which i cannot afford. my doctor has told me that i need my transfusion for the rest of my life. if i do not get my transfusions i will eventually die because i cannot fight off diseases. the only way for me to keep my insurance is if you help me with the cobra assistance under the arra. please help me not die.
# 272:
5:31 am PST, Nov 19, Christine Stehlik, Michigan
# 271:
4:47 am PST, Nov 19, Jennifer Shammamy, California
Please extend the Cobra subsidy. This would help greatly bridge me and many other families through the year 2010. People have young children and dependents and this subsidy will ensure they can keep their medical coverage intact . Additionally, these monies are a component of TARP that doesn't require paperwork, endless hours on the phone and other demands of us.
# 270:
4:27 am PST, Nov 19, Janice Kreitzer, Ohio
# 269:
9:26 pm PST, Nov 18, James Wolf, Illinois
Insurance without assistance costs more than a mortgage! Jim Wolf
# 268:
8:23 pm PST, Nov 18, Name not displayed, California
It is terrible enough that 16 million people are unemployed, with little chance of getting another job despite their best efforts. But now, we are faced with losing our health care benefits because we can longer afford to pay for them. How can someone who is not working afford to pay the $800 or $1000/mth that is unconscionably being charged for premiums? We need to extend the COBRA assistance program until such time as this country is out of our current economic debacle.
# 267:
1:51 pm PST, Nov 18, Shawn Sansom, Georgia
Please Pass, Thank You.
# 266:
9:23 am PST, Nov 18, Name not displayed, Illinois
I am a COBRA Administrator. Even thought the extension would be an administrating nightmare, its worth it knowing that people who need additional help during these tough ecomonic times have it available.
# 265:
7:39 am PST, Nov 18, Julianne O'Hara, Michigan
# 264:
7:05 am PST, Nov 18, Thomas Bradley, Colorado
will mean no health care for my family if this is not extended.
# 263:
6:16 am PST, Nov 18, Name not displayed, Connecticut
We are a family of 4 - both my husband & I were laid off within 4 months of each other and have coverage for closee to 595$ under the subsidy which will shoot up to 1700$. We are both finding temp jobs to make ends meet - but it will be impossible to carry insurance at this rate. We were fortunate to not have to worry about insurance payments and huge deductibles these last 8 months.. please extend the ARRA reduction so that families across the US that are trying to work things out with temp jobs or otherwise can still do so. Irony of the economy - I am working longer hours at one place and clasified consultant and given no benefits... In a good economy this would be considered slave labor... Please help in passing the extension
# 262:
8:59 pm PST, Nov 17, Dolores Hawrylo, New Jersey
I have a family of 5, three of whom have serious health conditions. I can not go without health insurance and will not qualify for Medicaid due to the severance pay I have received. Since my severance has been my only source of paying bills this has been depleted and I am unable to pay my COBRA premiums of $1,600 a month!! Please help and have this assistance extended to those of us not fortunate enough to find work yet.
# 261:
4:33 pm PST, Nov 17, David Coke, New York
My COBRA eligabillity commences January 1st 2010 with a strong liklyhood of >10% unemployment. Please extend
# 260:
3:00 pm PST, Nov 17, Name not displayed, California
I've out of work a year now. Cobra runs out end of November. This will cause problems for my wife and 2 boys. Without the ARRA extension my payments will go up to $1388. Please extend ARRA Cobra program
# 259:
2:03 pm PST, Nov 17, Name not displayed, Wisconsin
I am losing my job at the end of December with about 20 other employees and it would be great if this was extended so we could afford COBRA
# 258:
12:24 pm PST, Nov 17, Patricia Tucker, Illinois
I have been unemployed since November, 2008. My COBRA extension is running out as of November, 2009. I have diabetes and insurance companies will not issue me an insurance policy. I will have to pay $590.00 per month starting Decemer 1, 2009 and then I can only get COBRA for a limited time after that date. I am 62 and if I do not find a job soon, I will not be able to pay the $590.00 per month.
# 257:
12:22 pm PST, Nov 17, Name not displayed, Florida
# 256:
12:07 pm PST, Nov 17, Name not displayed, Wisconsin
please extend the arra cobra coverage. those of us still unemployed need the extension to help with monthly budgets. it has been a great help since it started. unemployment has been extended, why not cobra insurance extended? we are not out of the woods yet. help us as much as you have helped wall street and other large industries. we have helped this country for so many years now is the time to help joe average.
# 255:
9:41 am PST, Nov 17, Name not displayed, California
My wife and I both lost our jobs and health benefits last year. You just found part time work making significantly less than we did. We really need the Cobra break for yearly check ups and woman exams for birth control perscription. We are actually being smart about things and not wanting to have a child accidentally and not be able to afford it.
# 254:
7:58 am PST, Nov 17, Paul Gregory, California
Please help by extending the ARRA COBRA assistance plan. I live in California where the UE rate is higher than the rest of the country. My former employer had to change the medical plan to one with a high deductable in order to provide any at all. Without the 65% reduction I will not be able to continue my coverage along with paying the deductable when I do go to the doctor.
# 253:
8:16 pm PST, Nov 16, Pat Monroe, Missouri
# 252:
6:10 pm PST, Nov 16, Victoria Mabie, California
Please help, we are desperate and will not be able to pay our bills if we have to pay 1178.47 per month for the high deductible plan we now have.
# 251:
2:32 pm PST, Nov 16, Cliff Medney, New York
i need further assistance from my government to get back on my feet after having not worked in over 6 months. my family greatly appreciates the current subsidy that was enacted earlier this year. i prefer to have my family covered vs no insurance. thank you, thank you, thank you
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