Illinois jobless feel squeeze of health insurance

WASHINGTON -- The average unemployment check in Illinois would get largely eaten up to pay for health insurance through a benefit called COBRA.

A report released Friday says a newly unemployed breadwinner in Illinois would have to spend 84 percent of his or her jobless benefits to pay for health insurance for a family.

The report says the average monthly unemployment benefit in Illinois is just over $1,300, while the average monthly family COBRA premium is just over $1,100.

President-elect Barack Obama proposes spending about $80 billion dollars to extend unemployment benefits and to subsidize health care for people who've lost jobs.

The advocacy group Families USA says its report shows there's a need for the subsidy proposed by Obama.