Comments on: Are COBRA and FMLA responsible for exploding health costs? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for.html#comment-88713 Anonymous Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:33:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for-exploding-health-costs.html#comment-88713 As mentioned, COBRA requires the unemployed to pay the monthly premiums - and the couple of times I was on it pre-medical career, it wasn't at all cheap: In fact it was far more expensive than my employeers paid for my coverage...<br/><br/>Look elsewhere for the cause of the problem. In the mean time, separating insurance from employment is probably a good idea... As mentioned, COBRA requires the unemployed to pay the monthly premiums – and the couple of times I was on it pre-medical career, it wasn’t at all cheap: In fact it was far more expensive than my employeers paid for my coverage…

Look elsewhere for the cause of the problem. In the mean time, separating insurance from employment is probably a good idea…

]]> By: Janishttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for.html#comment-88708 Janis Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:18:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for-exploding-health-costs.html#comment-88708 As an HR professional, I've administered COBRA benefits. As the above poster noted, many individuals cannot afford the full burden of the cost of their COBRA premiums (the full premium plus a 2% administrative fee). Therefore, the ones who elect COBRA tend to be high utilizers - either because they are making sure to get their "money's worth" by scheduling delayed care or because their chronic condition(s) would be even more costly without the cushion of COBRA coverage.<br/><br/>That said, I do not that that COBRA legislation had any significant effect on the rapid rise of health care costs. Try taking a look at trends in managed care. As an HR professional, I’ve administered COBRA benefits. As the above poster noted, many individuals cannot afford the full burden of the cost of their COBRA premiums (the full premium plus a 2% administrative fee). Therefore, the ones who elect COBRA tend to be high utilizers – either because they are making sure to get their “money’s worth” by scheduling delayed care or because their chronic condition(s) would be even more costly without the cushion of COBRA coverage.

That said, I do not that that COBRA legislation had any significant effect on the rapid rise of health care costs. Try taking a look at trends in managed care.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for.html#comment-88706 Anonymous Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:52:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for-exploding-health-costs.html#comment-88706 COBRA coverage requires the individual to cover the entire cost of insurance. How can you afford that if you're unemployed? <br/><br/>I wouldn't blame anybody who was unemployed and paying the premium (with what?) for taking care of their nagging health problems. They're paying plenty! <br/><br/>I think there are far more people who when becoming unemployed find that they can't pay the rent and purchase COBRA so they become uninsured. COBRA coverage requires the individual to cover the entire cost of insurance. How can you afford that if you’re unemployed?

I wouldn’t blame anybody who was unemployed and paying the premium (with what?) for taking care of their nagging health problems. They’re paying plenty!

I think there are far more people who when becoming unemployed find that they can’t pay the rent and purchase COBRA so they become uninsured.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for.html#comment-88702 Anonymous Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for-exploding-health-costs.html#comment-88702 Medicaid is not available to everyone.<br/><br/>Assuming you meet the financial requirements (no money, no income basically), in my state to receive Medicaid you must be either pregnant, a child, or disabled. Medicaid is not available to everyone.

Assuming you meet the financial requirements (no money, no income basically), in my state to receive Medicaid you must be either pregnant, a child, or disabled.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for.html#comment-88700 Anonymous Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:25:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/12/are-cobra-and-fmla-responsible-for-exploding-health-costs.html#comment-88700 Insurers assume that COBRA participants are more expensive than working employees. However, the reason is not that a person on COBRA was too sick to work and therefore lost their job. The usual thinking is that COBRA is available for a time definite period (use it or lose it when eligibility ends) and since your are not working you have time to go to the doctor. Therefore, you take care of all those nagging issues that you ignored when you were working everyday (e.g. arthroscopic procedures). Insurers assume that COBRA participants are more expensive than working employees. However, the reason is not that a person on COBRA was too sick to work and therefore lost their job. The usual thinking is that COBRA is available for a time definite period (use it or lose it when eligibility ends) and since your are not working you have time to go to the doctor. Therefore, you take care of all those nagging issues that you ignored when you were working everyday (e.g. arthroscopic procedures).

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