In 1982, Exxon abruptly shut it down.

NPR: Industry Seeks to Extract Oil from Rocky Mountain Shale

Meanwhile, millions of workers don't qualify for Cobra in the first place, because the law doesn't cover the self-employed or those working for companies that abruptly shut down or are too small, or those who didn't offer health insurance to begin with.

WSJ: Despite Subsidy, Cobra's Bite Still Stings for Many

In July, Peter Wuffli stepped down abruptly as chief executive of UBS months after that firm took big losses from subprime mortgage holdings and shut down its Dillon Read hedge fund unit.

FORBES: Magazine Article