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Q:  I was put on medical leave of absence in July 2008 and covered by ins. until Oct. 31, 2008. At that time I was put on unemployment and started Cobra. I only received unemployment from Nov. 08 to March 09. I filed for disability the end of Oct. 2008, and was approved in Jan/Feb 2009. Benefits started in March 2009. I'm still paying the full amount for my Cobra benefit. I turned 60 in Dec. 2008, and have a ways to go before I become eligible for Medicare. I was told because of the disability I'm not eligible for the 65/35% reduction in cost. (The Obama stimulus package deal)? This doesn't make sense to me. Why shouldn't I receive the same benefit especially since I'm disabled and cannot work? Can you please help me to understand this? Thank you so much.

A:  If you were involuntarily terminated, either fired or laid off, you should be eligible for the reduction.  To be eligible for the reduction, you would have had to have been let go after September 1^st, 2008 and to my understanding it sounds as if your position was terminated on July 2008.  Unfortunately, medical leave is normally a voluntary occurrence and therefore even if you were put on Cobra after September 1^st, due to the fact that it was not involuntarily the reduction would not be an option. 

For further information, contact your previous employer or your Cobra administrator.