President-Elect Barack Obama is calling 2008 the worst year of job loss since WWII. "524,000 jobs were lost in December across nearly all american industry. That means our economy lost jobs in all twelve months of 2008."

The loss of income for the average american family is a challenge. But the loss of employer based health insurance can bankrupt that family.

In 1985 the government rolled out a plan called "COBRA" a program that most companies are required to offer employee's at the time of layoffs.

Richard Parker likes the systems and says it serves an important purpose. "I think it's a good thing. It helps people out when they're changing jobs, lose their jobs or change coverage."

But, a study through "Families USA" shows that most americans are passing on the extended coverage, for one simple reason, cost!

According to the study the national average for unemployment insurance is almost 13-hundred dollars. Cobra premiums run more than a thousand.

That means that for every 10 dollars you get from the unemployment office, it costs 8 dollars to keep a family insured.

Sam Allen says the average guy, just can't afford it. "It's too high for individuals who are trying to purchase it. It won't fit in your family income. You need to shop around, it's too high. I've looked at it, tried it, can't afford it."

But the question is in 2009, can the american tax payer afford the hundreds of thousands of unemployed who can't afford COBRA?