Health insurance has been in the spotlight recently as the debate for a nationalized health care system ensues. What is often overlooked is the quality of healthcare in the United States. Forrest Simmons, had a right hip replacement at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta and says exactly two weeks after the operation : “I am, sitting at my desk at work, only having to use a cane to get around, and it reinforces my belief that we have the most incredible health care and technology systems in the world”.
 
The debate on health care reform impacts every one of us and when you think about it, this may be the one piece of legislation that touches all of us in the most direct, intimate fashion. What’s more personal than your health? Whether you agree with some type of government provided health care or not, this is too big of an issue for us not to reflect our views to our elected representatives.
 
With that in mind I have attached a link that will help you contact your representatives in Congress and let them know your opinion. Here is the link to copy into your browser:
 
http://www.house.gov/zip/ZIP2Rep.html
 

Type in your zip code, and when the name of your Representative shows up, click on “Contact” in the upper right hand corner. Let him/her know your thoughts.

For those who have lost their jobs and have no health insurance, they may turn to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). COBRA gives employees who have lost their jobs the opportunity to continue to receive heath insurance for their families for a temporary amount of time under certain conditions.

COBRA applies to companies with 20 or more employees, but does not apply if your company goes out of business or stops offering health insurance benefits. Generally, families are responsible for 35% of the premium with the remaining 65% being the responsibility of the previous employer.

Additionally, college graduates may turn to COBRA to provide health insurance temporarily after being dropped from their parents health insurance. 

For more information please see:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html
http://kiplinger.com/columns/ask/archive/2009/q0223.htm