Layoffs Leave Many Without Health Coverage.

The Wall Street Journal (12/6, Dugan) reported in "a trend that is exacerbating health and money problems for tens of thousands of people nationwide," companies are "abruptly eliminating insurance and leaving laid-off workers with bills for medical expenses incurred before the shutdowns."

Increasingly, "people are facing this issue as their employers shut down." In fact, data indicate that "the number of liquidations under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code surged 62 percent to 13,002 in this year's first half compared with a year earlier." Of those companies "that have filed for bankruptcy protection, the number of 'mass extended layoffs' -- more than 50 people unemployed for at least a month -- doubled in this year's third quarter." In addition, "companies that liquidate usually terminate" their health benefits, and "when a company terminates its insurance plan," employees are not eligible for COBRA.

The New York Times (12/7, A30, Pear) also reported on the increase in uninsured people due to job cuts, specifically at the Archway cookie factory in Ashland, Ohio. ... To save money in a tough economy, they "are canceling appointments with doctors and dentists, putting off surgery, and going without prescription medicines for themselves and their children."

The Times noted that "most people are covered through the workplace, so when they lose their jobs, they lose their health benefits. On average, for each jobless worker who has lost insurance, at least one child or spouse covered under the same policy has also lost protection, public health experts said."