Most laid-off workers in Florida and across the nation can't afford to keep health insurance, according to a study from a Washington consumer group released Friday morning.

The report, by Families USA, shows that monthly payments of COBRA, the coverage available to those who lose their jobs, eats up far too much of unemployment benefits to be practical.

In Florida, the average monthly family COBRA premium is $1,037, which is more than the average monthly unemployment benefit of $1,013. For an individual policy in Florida, COBRA is $371 monthly -- more than a third of the unemployment check.

Ron Pollack, president of Families USA, said, ''COBRA health coverage is great in theory and lousy in reality.'' He called the program a ``tragic ruse.''

the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 -- allows employees leaving a company to continue to receive their employer-based health coverage for a year or more -- but only if the worker pays the entire premium.

That proves too expensive for most people, the study reported. Shopping in the individual market to purchase policies can also be hard, particularly for those who most need coverage.

''Those with health problems are likely to find that no insurer will sell them a policy that will cover their preexisting conditions at any price,'' said the report, entitled, ``Squeezed: Caught between Unemployment Benefits and Healthcare Costs.''

The study was based on unemployment figures from the U.S. Department of Labor and COBRA figures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Florida was one of nine states in the survey in which the average family premium was equal to or more than the unemployment benefit. In 41 states, the family COBRA was more than three-fourths of the unemployment check.

Pollack noted that the incoming Obama administration is well aware of the deficiencies of COBRA. Obama leaders are floating proposals that the recovery package include subsidies for the unemployed to help them pay for insurance or a temporary expansion of Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance for the poor.

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