A question I am hearing more and more these days: “I have just lost my job and my health care coverage. What am I going to do?”

It’s not a surprising question since tens of thousands of Minnesotans are living with that reality today. It is a reality that takes a tremendous toll on families. Cost-effective, preventive care is often delayed or skipped all together; visits for injury or illness may be put off until more costly emergency care or hospitalization is required. A lack of health insurance may compound the challenge of finding a new job when chronic conditions go untreated.

And being uninsured only exacerbates the other economic pressures that result in bankruptcy for many families facing unemployment.

The one option that is currently available to most laid-off workers, Continuation of Health Coverage, otherwise known as COBRA, is simply too expensive for most families. Qualified individuals are required to pay 102 percent of both the employer’s and employee’s share of the cost of the policy.

The cost of COBRA premiums is more than $1,000 per month on average for family coverage, simply unaffordable when unemployment benefits average about $324 a week. As a result of this high cost, only 20 percent of those individuals who qualify for COBRA actually buy it, leaving 80 percent of the newly unemployed uninsured. That is unacceptable.

The Minnesota Legislature needs to provide a clear, meaningful and immediate answer to the many Minnesotans asking “What am I going to do?”

Fortunately, we have one.

Despite our state’s deep budget woes, our MinnesotaCare fund currently has a surplus balance of dedicated health care dollars. The Legislature should act quickly to allow Minnesotans who are approved for unemployment benefits to automatically enroll in MinnesotaCare.

A person would remain covered as long as they continue to receive unemployment benefits and pay the low-cost premiums. Moreover, this unique program would sunset in two years, after the current economic crisis has passed. Using dedicated health care money to help Minnesotans in this time of economic crisis is the right thing to do.

Admittedly, this is a short-term solution. We must continue to move forward on more fundamental, broad-ranging reform of our health care system. But right now there is a need for immediate relief. The Legislature can and should deliver it.

Paul Thissen is a DFL state representive for District 63A in Minneapolis.