Republicans Block COBRA Aid Extension

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 18:13

Americans without healthcare coverage line up in Wise County, Virgina, for a chance at free treatment, 07/24/09. (photo: Steve Helber/AP)

Congress declined to help laid-off workers stay on employers' health-insurance rolls in the Medicare package passed yesterday.

emocrats managed to push through $16 billion in extra Medicaid assistance to states, despite strenuous Republican resistance. But to do so, they had to leave COBRA subsidies out of the package NPR reported. The aid, authorized in last summer's stimulus bill, had helped laid-off workers stay on employer health-insurance rolls by paying up to 65 percent of the premium, but it expired in June.

Workers have the option of staying on an employer's plan up to 18 months after losing a job. But without the employer paying part of the cost, the price of staying insured is often far too high for most.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi roused Democrats from their August break to pass the Medicare package, which included $10 billion for teachers' salaries. Her move came after the Senate had a surprise breakthrough last week.

But in dropping efforts to extend COBRA aid, Democrats have paid a high price. The party has made access to health care a centerpiece of its platform. And with 131,000 jobs lost just last month, the failure to help sacked workers remain insured is a significant retreat.

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Comments

+3 # Guest 2010-08-11 20:36

This really sucks.

+9 # Guest 2010-08-12 04:16

Please provide website links that show exactly who voted against health care coverage extensions.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-12 08:05

John Gardiner: Please provide website links that show exactly who voted against health care coverage extensions.

+3 # Guest 2010-08-12 08:54

,,Those who voted no
will be remembered by
a no vote come election day.My vote will be counted
for I will vote no to you. You know who you are.

+5 # Guest 2010-08-12 09:29

Obama may not be our knight in shinning armor but anyone who doesn't vote for him again or other Democrats, hopefully progressives, and allows the scoundrals who destroyed our nation to get back in power should have their head shoved where the sun don't shine. People are angry and we have a right to be but letting these criminals who have shown that they are totally for a corporate agenda at our expense over and over would be so horrible I don't even want to think about it!

0 # Guest 2010-08-13 20:28

[quote name="Varda Burns"] "Obama may not be our knight in shinning armor"

Give him time. By the time of the next Presidential election, he might just be that Knight in shinning armor you originally thought.

Remember, he is not a dictator and has to deal with a hostle group of both Republicans and their Democratic allies.

As he is President for all Americans, he is trying to do the best for most. That often means compromising, so that there is at least, a little progress rather than none!

The "late" Johnny Cochran advised that we shouldn't rush to judgement.

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 08:51

They already have their heads shoved where the sun doesn't shine. That's why they are so out of touch with the realities of what _real_ Americans are facing every day.

I write to my Congressman, and in the messages I get back, I can see the frustration that he has with people who just are not paying attention to the needs of America.

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 09:17

My vote this November is going to a Progressive who is running against Ron "let me sell you some insurance" Wyden, the author of the mandatory insurance clause in the health "care" bill. He stood in front of a town meeting filled with single-payer advocates and _told_ us that we wanted insurance "like Congress has" ... something _WE_ don't have the income to afford. Congress makes more money than most Americans do, and they can afford high premiums and "designer" insurance plans.

+5 # Guest 2010-08-12 09:33

If Republican Congress could do the math they would see that in the long run the extended coverage is cheaper for their constituents who end up footing the bill through higher insurance premiums and higher overhead for hospitals who have to treat thousands of patients in the emergency room. Often for treatable conditions that become very serious due to delaying care until it is urgent.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-12 14:45

I hate to break it to ya Jerry but the Banana Republicans have zero interest in what is best for their constituents. They act for their own benefit and no one else's. In fact, they are clearly going out of their way to ensure that the suffering goes on indefinitely (and in earnest) whilst they continue lining their pockets with corporate blood money. Evil is as evil does.

We're on our own here folks. The American dream has been devoured by "big money", greed and the corporatocracy and now it is eating it's own citizens to stay alive. Welcome to the peasant class where if those in power can't make money off the sweat of your back, then they'll happily take their payment in tears and blood. We mean nothing to the "powers-that-be".

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 08:58

That's why I propose that ALL publicly elected officials be _required_ to remove all of their assets from corporate stocks and put them into special government bonds that would be tied to the national debt. If we are running a deficit, their bonds drop in value. If we have a balanced budget they receive a modest interest. Then they'd be on par with our 401Ks. But it would remove temptation to vote the corporate agenda, where the vote could increase the value of their stocks.

+4 # Guest 2010-08-12 11:41

The Republican Party has never met a person in need whom they didn't move to skewer. That has been their hallmark for over a century. They define political success by the number of victims they can bleed.

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 09:00

That was not Teddy Roosevelt's policy. Although they were opposed to Social Security when FDR pushed it through Congress, they've really reversed their agenda since Eisenhower.

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 09:18

For those who don't know, Teddy Roosevelt was the first to propose a national health care system.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-12 12:12

I was one of those who took advantage of my COBRA benefits and stayed on for the max of 36 months. I still had to pay a horrendous amount for health insurance, but at least I got the "group coverage" which assured me minor things such as doctor visits, "well woman," etc. Now I am no longer covered by COBRA but they have to sell me insurance, something I would be unable to get, if not for COBRA laws. I have diabetes and although I keep blood sugars levels well within range, I am considered a "high risk." My deductible and premiums are now through the roof and benefits are what are considered "catastrophic," but I can't afford to be without. My prescriptions are no longer covered, but I can continue with most of them because of generic pricing. Please don't let the right lose COBRA!

0 # Antonia Myss 2010-08-12 14:38

Varda – I think you’ve been drinking Obama's Kool-Aid! Obama IS one of those criminals who has shown, REPEATEDLY, that he has a totally corporate agenda at our expense (& I voted for him!). So do a good many of the Democrats who are now in the House and Senate. In fact, there already is a majority of Republicans in both Houses, since even if you call yourself a Democrat, if you think like a Republican, talk like a Republican and vote like a Republican, then YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN! The worst part is that Obama has repeatedly demonstrated that he is NOT a leader (case in point: he turned to Robert Rubin, the Apostle of DE-regulation, as a key campaign adviser and then put Rubin’s disciples in charge of the U.S. economy), which is why there is such a strong chance that "official" Republicans will gain even more of a majority in both the House and the Senate come November. Put Kucinich, Grayson or Nader on the Presidential ballot in 2012, in any combination & they'd have my time, my resources & my vote.

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 09:07

Obama was NOT my choice, but Kucinich was out of the race by the time the Oregon primary came around. I felt that Obama was better than the _known_ corporatist, Clinton, but now I'm not quite so sure.

Will Obama survive to run in 2012? I'm not sure he will, and he's done it to himself. One prediction I saw was Clinton against Palin. _THAT_ is scary.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-12 18:37

is there anyone in the republican party with a moral conscience? I thought most of them were "christian". Foolish me! Looks like they endorse suffering and death... give us names! dj

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 09:08

Most "Christians" aren't.

0 # Guest 2010-08-16 08:47

COBRA needs to be extended beyond 18 months, too.

We just lost the COBRA subsidy this month and the difference means that we have no money to pay for insurance. Looking for a plan outside of COBRA, the price is even higher.

WE NEED A UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IN THIS COUNTRY!

Give me the Canadian system, ANY day.

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