COBRA Subsidy- do I really have to pay the entire premium to start?

I was terminated from my job on 1/8/10. I was given a paper asking if I elected COBRA and checked "yes". It says I must pay my entire health insurance premium, starting with February 1st as I had already paid January, but that I will somehow be reimbursed for 65% or that amount will be credited to future months. Is this really how it works? I am worried that my former employer is wrong and I don't know how to fix it. I don't want to get stuck paying the full amount if I am supposed to get the subsidy.