While employees who have lost their health insurance due to losing their job are given the option of continuing coverage through the Florida COBRA program, only about 1 in 10 actually take advantage of this benefit. COBRA, while the only option for many who are without a job and do not qualify for an individual policy, is often prohibitively expensive. When faced with trying to pay for food and shelter and other necessaties on the small amount of money alloted from unemployment, most people do not have the option of paying for COBRA as well. Premiums can eat up a large percentage of unemployment, and when faced with the choice, most people in that situation will not choose to pay for health insurance over other needs. Is COBRA basically a useless program since it is within the reach of so few?