Joan Dumaine wants to pass on some health insurance coverage info she got since talking to some folks at the Geek  Seminar.

 The  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009  – also known as the recently passed stimulus package included $20 billion for 9 months of COBRA coverage for certain employees terminated between 9/1/2008 and 12/31/2009.
-          It allows COBRA eligible individuals a second chance to enroll in COBRA and pay 35% of premium.
-          Employers must notify people of new law by April 19, DOL will produce model notification March 19.
-          Employers will pay remaining 65% of premium and receive subsidy from government in form of reduced payroll taxes.
-          Certain employees eligible are defined as involuntarily terminated from 9/1/2008 to 12/31/2009, including those who did not elect COBRA during that time and do not have access to coverage under someone else’s policy.

She also sent along a more comprehensive overview of the new COBRA requirements. It’s copyrighted, so I’m not going to post it, but Joan will send you a copy if you email her. 

Similary, Sue Simoneau sends along this link to the Social Media University / Global: http://social-media-university-global.org/smug/

The site is run by Lee Aase (cq), who handles social media and syndication for the Mayo Clinic. He started it to show pr types how to navigate this new world. If you follow his “curriculum,” you’ll find great directions for using Twitter, Facebook, blogs, RSS, podcasting and Yammer.

It really gives you the basics and also shows how communicators are using these new social media. Now I get it!

Sue