Comments on: A Bit of Help for Massachusetts Unemployed

By: tina

tina — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:50:11 +0000

I have sent in two months of forms and receipts to the MSP. About how long does it normally take to receive a reimbusement check?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:37:10 +0000

If you are having trouble or keep getting jerked around, and don’t know where to turn call the Governor’s office. I know he is a moron, but he has some good people working for him, and their job is to kiss your ass to buy your vote. They have access to phone numbers that aren’t public, and they love to give them out. If they give you a number, don’t be surprised if the DUA worker asks how you got their private line before helping you out with everything you need. (888) 870-7770 is the number. Use it!

By: Cathryn Mezynski

Cathryn Mezynski — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:30:09 +0000

I have been out of work since April, 2009. I have held a part time job for the last several years.

My unemployment benefits have been interrupted twice (this time, I haven't received a check for 3 weeks now!). THey say my claim has been coded a 9 (what does that mean?). I went in person to the unemployment office and then had to call to leave a message for a claim officer. No one has contacted me as to why I haven't received a check, and no one seems to be able to help. Any suggestions?

By: Corey

Corey — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:53:50 +0000

I sent my MSP application in about three weeks ago. I called today and was told that I wasn’t in the system yet. It’s taking them three to four weeks to open and input your data. Then its another 10 weeks (yes, she said ten weeks) to process your app. By this timeline I will know in early November if I qualify and might get a reimbursement check by December. In the meantime, I need to find a way to pay for five months of COBRA out of pocket. This isn’t what I’d call helpful to the average family struggling to make ends meet.

By: Dave Atkins

Dave Atkins — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:08:56 +0000

I did actually blog about this, but I think it is a TERRIBLE idea. Right now, with the new law, there is a period where people who failed to elect COBRA before can now join. But the general rule was that you had 60 days from termination to elect, then 45 days to make your payments. I assume that on day 61, you are out of luck. On day 60, I elected COBRA and have to come up with about $3000 by April 15--much of which I will get back from MSP. You cannot pick and choose what months you are covered for--my employer told me that I would have to pay for all of January and February regardless of whether I had "used" the benefit or not.

The reason I think it is a bad idea is because if you are avoiding going to the doctor--it's like you don't really have insurance. You make bad decisions about the health of your family because you feel poor. Then, you have to pay anyway. So just enroll already--with the 93% subsidy now, there is no good reason to try and game the system.

The way COBRA works is that your employer keeps paying your premiums for 2 months after you are terminated. Then, they can stop and get a refund for those 2 months if you don't elect. I don't know what happens if you come back 6 months later and say you want COBRA now...

By: lixy

lixy — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:00:36 +0000

I haven’t read your previous post but wonder if people know that the can enroll for COBRA benefits at anytime during their enrollment period and are covered even if they received services before enrollment.

I was unemployed three years ago and am ever so grateful to my savvy friend who advised me not to sign up for COBRA benefits unless I needed them. I called Crosby benefits and they confirmed this.