State of Un-surance: Health insurance for unemployed

A huge amount of frustration could be solved by simply adding a checkbox to the intial unemployment claim form. Over at DaveWrites, I propose how the Department of Unemployment Assistance should evaluate laid off workers' eligibility for assistance in paying their health insurance premiums at the time claims are filed.

The Economic Stimulus Act that takes effect on March 1 will also help laid off workers by paying 65% of COBRA premiums. But if you are eligible for the Massachusetts Medical Security Program, they will reimburse you 80%. All of this is great to know, but actually making it happen is a frustrating mess involving sitting on hold for 45 minutes or more and waiting 2 months for a decision that could have been made at the time you filed your initial claim.

People without health insurance should also be wary of plans that are being sold in Massachusetts that fail to meet the minimum creditable standards of the state. If you buy one of these cheapo plans (e.g. $10,000 deductibles), you will end up paying tax penalties of potentially more than $1000 next year because, in the eyes of the state, you are not really insured.