| What is Cobra? And how do I figure this out? There | | | | Insurance professional Morgan Moran says, "COBRA |
| is a huge challenge faced by many people today; | | | | health insurance provisions will apply to private |
| you've just been leg go by your employer. Basically, | | | | employers with at least 20 employees. Individual |
| you have no income, and no health insurance | | | | state and local governments may also make rules |
| benefits. Currently, the last thing you want to do is | | | | regarding eligibility for COBRA health insurance. Take |
| send money to your ex-employer for health | | | | note that the COBRA health insurance provisions |
| insurance benefits. However, that is most likely what | | | | don't apply to health insurance plans sponsored by |
| you'll need to do. Are you covered? You are likely | | | | the Federal government. Also, these provisions don't |
| eligible to be covered by your employer's COBRA | | | | apply to certain church sponsored insurance plans, or |
| health insurance plan. You must pay the premiums | | | | certain church-related organizations. |
| yourself; you will be eligible to remain covered, | | | | If you are a former employee who has elected to |
| without any lapse in benefits, by your previous | | | | receive the continuation offered by COBRA health |
| employers plan. | | | | insurance agree to take over payment of the plan's |
| What is COBRA and how do I get it? Prior to 1986, | | | | premiums. The former employer has the optional right |
| loss of employment would also mean loss of you and | | | | to charge an administrative fee of up to 1%. If you |
| your families health insurance coverage (if they were | | | | lose eligibility for group coverage for yourself, or your |
| also covered by your employer). In 1986, the | | | | dependents, there may be another option. |
| Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act | | | | Automatically enrolling in COBRA health insurance may |
| (COBRA) was passed. COBRA health insurance | | | | not be your best bet. You may have the right to |
| provides you the right to extend your | | | | "special enroll" (without waiting for an open enrollment |
| employer-provided health insurance coverage. You | | | | season) in other available group health coverage. |
| continue to receive the same benefits, but at your | | | | Before deciding to enroll in COBRA health insurance, |
| own expense. | | | | be sure to carefully weigh all your options. |
| In all instances COBRA health insurance requires your | | | | If enrolling in COBRA health insurance is your only |
| previous employer to offer their health insurance | | | | option, then get the coverage. Continue to protect |
| coverage to covered employees, and their covered | | | | yourself, and your family until you find a new |
| dependents. Slough, there are certain qualifying | | | | employer, or new insurance. Contact your state's |
| conditions, this will most likely be a good option if you | | | | Department of Insurance to learn your full rights |
| are not a healthy individual. These conditions include | | | | under COBRA health insurance." In many instances |
| the death of the employee, termination (fired, or laid | | | | you may qualify for an individual health insurance |
| off through no fault of the employee), a reduction in | | | | policy. If you need help on where to find more |
| work hours except if due to gross employee | | | | information on Individual Health Insurance coverage |
| misconduct, a spouse's divorce or legal separation | | | | please visit your trusted source for health insurance |
| from the covered employee, a covered employee | | | | at |
| being eligible for Medicare, or a child that loses his | | | | Florida Health Insurance Consultants Are Here! |
| dependent status under the plan. The COBRA health | | | | COBRA Health Insurance What Is It? |
| insurance program covers many contingencies. | | | | |