COBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

COBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation ActCOBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation ActCOBRA is a United States law that allows a covered employeeand his or her family to continue their group health care coverage when faced with a qualifying event that could cause them to lose it. An individual covered by this law is known as a qualified beneficiary. Examples of qualifying events for employees include leaving or quitting your jobor having your hours reduced. The law also allows the spouse and children of the employee to continue their coverage should either of those events take place or if the covered employee dies or becomes eligible for Medicare. Additionally, it includesprotection for the employees spouse if he or she would lose insurance benefits due to divorce. COBRA, which Congress passed in 1986, stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Why You Need to Understand Your Rights Under COBRA The group health insurance your employer offers can keep you from financial ruin should you or one of your dependents become ill. If you lose your job, or some other event threatens your coverage, it is important that you know about COBRA and how it can protect you. Group health insurance is one of the most valuable components of your compensation package. Some employers pay the entire premium, but many require employees to pay a portion and sometimes even the entire thing. In any case, participating in an employers group insurance plan is almost always cheaper than paying for an individual health insurance policy. When you leave your job, whether you are fired or quit, you shouldnt have to go without health insurance because you cant afford an individual policy. That is where COBRA comes in. It allows you to continue to participate in your employers group health insurance plan by paying for your policy on your own. Here are answers to some questions you may have. The information provided here is general in nature. The end of th e article tells you where to go for more information. Are All Group Insurance Plans Subject to COBRA? Not all group plans are subject to COBRA. Only those plans maintained by businesses and state or local governments with more than 20 employees are. Group insurance plans that the United States federal government, churches and certain church organizations provide for their employees are bedrngnis subject to it either. The Federal Government offers something similar for their employees,however. Does COBRA Protect You and Your Family? If you or your family has a qualifying event, for example, you loseyour job for any reason but gross misconduct,quit your job, or your employer reduces your hours, you die or you and your spouse divorce, AND you answer yes to any of the following questions, you are probably eligible for COBRA Do you work for a private sector employer or state or local government with 20 or more employees?Are you covered by the group health insurance plan provided by your spouses or parents private sector or state or local government employer?Were you or your family covered by a group health plan on the day before the qualifying event occurred? Reasons to Elect Continued Coverage Through COBRA You should opt to continue your group health insurance benefits when Your plan is better than other plans that may be available.You or your dependents wont have coverage without it.Youare satisfied with your plan and your health care providers. Reasons You Should Elect to Not Continue Your Coverage You shouldnt use COBRA to continue your coverage if You can get coverage from your spouses, or other parents, employer.You find a better plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. You should note that while under other circumstances you must wait until an open enrollment period to sign up for a health insurance plan, HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, provides an opportunity for those who have lost eligibility for cove rage to enroll during other times. Thisis called special enrollment. How Much Will You Pay to Continue Your Coverage? The amount you will pay for your insurance premiums depends on the cost of the plan. You will not pay more than the combined cost the employer and an employee payfor the same policy (plus 2% for administrative costs). 3 Things That Should Happen After a Qualifying Event Your employer must notify its health insurance plan within 30 days of your employment ending, a reduction in your hours, or your death.Once it receives notification, the plan must then send an election notice to you and other qualified beneficiaries within 14 days of receiving notification from your employer. It will explain your rights and tell you how to elect to continue your coverage.You will have 60 days from the date you received your election notice or the date your coverage ended to elect to continue your coverage. How Long Can You Continue Your Coverage? You and your family can e lect to continue insurance coverage for at least 18 months if you qualified for COBRA because you lost or quit your job. If you fail to pay your premium, or you begin coverage under another group plan, your coverage will end. If at any time your former employer no longer provides a group health insurance plan to employees, you will no longer be able to participate. Where To Get More Information About COBRA Individuals who work for private sector employers should contact the Employee Benefits Security Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Either calltoll free(866) 444-3272, or visitdol.gov/ebsa/contactEBSA/consumerassistance.html. If you work for a state or local government, you should contact the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services at 7500 Security BoulevardMail Stop C1-22-06Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 Disclaimer The information contained in this article is for guidance, ideas and assistance only. While the author makes every effort to offer accurate advic e and information, she is not an attorney. Therefore, the content is not to be construed as legal advice. Check government resources or legal counsel when in doubt about your particular situation. Sources Department of Labor. FAQs About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage.NOLO. Your Rights When You Leave a Job.