Jobless Utahns priced out of health care
According to a state-by-state assessment released this morning, the ripple effect of having the highest national unemployment rate since 1945 will cause a dramatic increase in the number people who have no medical coverage.
Because a job and health insurance are linked through the workplace for about 80 percent of Utahns, a job loss is a double whammy for families, according to the nonpartisan, nonprofit health care policy research group Families USA.
Workers can retain their employer-sponsored insurance if those laid-off can afford to pay the full cost of continuing that coverage, Ron Pollack, executive director, said in a Friday conference call with news media nationwide.
"That's possible in a few cases, but in Utah as in 40 other states, the insurance premium is almost as much as the worker's monthly unemployment check," he said, noting that the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA) designed to prevent workers between jobs from a lapse in coverage isn't a practical option.
Prior to the recession, an estimated 45 million Americans, including 300,000 Utahns had no insurance. "The numbers of the uninsured and underinsured will undoubtedly increase significantly," he said.
A Utah family continuing under COBRA for pays on average $1,030 per month, or 76.8 percent of the $1,341 monthly unemployment check. For an individual, the average COBRA payment is $363, or 27 percent of unemployment.
Average monthly benefits are calculated by multiplying average weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by a conversion factor of 4.3. This calculation assumes that individuals receive unemployment benefits for four consecutive full weeks.
Calling COBRA a catch-22 and a "ruse," Pollack noted that "if laid-off workers do not continue their employer-based coverage by electing COBRA and instead seek coverage in the individual health, those with health problems are likely to find that no insurer willing to sell them a policy is willing to cover their pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes at any price."
E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com
Recent comments
Universal Health Care only works if
1. Heatlh Care is rationed....
Universal Heatlh Care | Jan. 10, 2009 at 12:47 p.m.
As a Canadian who has access to Canada's health care-let me make you...
Warren | Jan. 10, 2009 at 9:22 a.m.
It's about not taking things that don't belong to you.
Think
long...
Liberty | Jan. 10, 2009 at 7:08 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Man dies after being run over
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...

