Most laid-off workers of low or moderate incomes can't afford to keep their insurance through COBRA (the federal law that allows employees to keep their job-based health insurance for three years after they lose or leave a job, if they pay the entire premium) and do not qualify for public health programs for the poor. A study by Wilper published in August in the Annals of Internal Medicine estimated that about 25% of uninsured adults had chronic health conditions such as diabetes or emphysema but did not receive regular care to ensure the conditions were well-managed.