Doty Michelle, Rustgi Sheila D, Schoen Cathy, Collins Sara R
Commonwealth Fund, USA.
Issue Brief (Commonw Fund). 2009 Jan;49:1-12.
As the U.S. economic downturn continues and job losses mount, more working Americans are likely to lose access to affordable health benefits subsidized by their employers. Analysis of the 2007 Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey finds that two of three working adults would be eligible to extend job-based coverage, under the 1985 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) if they became unemployed. Under COBRA, however, unemployed workers would have to pay four to six times their current contribution at a time of sharply reduced income. In fact, the latest national figures indicate that, because of high premiums, only 9 percent of unemployed workers have COBRA coverage. Substantial financial assistance of 75 percent to 85 percent of premiums could help laid-off workers maintain coverage. In addition, expansion of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program would benefit low-income, laid-off workers and their families who are ineligible for COBRA.
随着美国经济衰退持续，失业人数不断增加，越来越多在职的美国人可能无法再享受雇主提供的负担得起的医保福利补贴。对2007年联邦基金两年一次的医疗保险调查分析发现，三分之二的在职成年人如果失业，根据1985年的《综合预算协调法案》（COBRA），他们有资格延续基于工作的医保覆盖范围。然而，根据COBRA法案，失业工人在收入大幅减少之际，需要支付目前费用的四到六倍。事实上，最新的全国数据显示，由于保费高昂，只有9%的失业工人享有COBRA医保覆盖。保费75%到85%的大量财政援助可以帮助下岗工人维持医保覆盖。此外，扩大医疗补助计划和州儿童健康保险计划将使不符合COBRA资格的低收入下岗工人及其家庭受益。
