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What else can I help you with?
Is it legal for an employer to drop insurance on a new mother without notification and without offering COBRA?
Depends on how many employees the employer has. COBRA applies only to 20 or more in the last year.
Does an employer have to offer COBRA coverage to employees who are eligible for it?
Yes, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), employers with 20 or more employees are required to offer COBRA coverage to eligible employees who experience a qualifying event that would result in a loss of health insurance coverage.
Can an employer cancel your health insurance without offering you a cobra plan in Texas?
Yes, there are several different circumstances where this could happen. If the employer has discontinued the plan entirely, then there is no COBRA coverage to be offered. If the company has fewer than 20 employees, the plan does not have to offer COBRA coverage. If the company is a church, it is not required to offer COBRA. Last, if you were fired from the job for gross misconduct, the employer does not have to offer you COBRA coverage.
Does a person have to be employed to be cover under a company policy for health insurance?
Companies that provide health insurance to their employees often extend that coverage to the dependents of employees as well. So, one way to be covered under an employer-sponsored plan is to be a dependent (child, spouse or domestic partner) of an employee. Through a federal law known as COBRA, former employees may also continue their coverage under an employer-sponsored health insurance plan in certain circumstances. If you are laid off or leave your job (or if you are a dependent of a person who is laid off or leaves his or her job) and you qualify for COBRA, you can opt to continue your coverage under the employer plan for up to 18 months, at your own expense. That means you will have to pay the full monthly premium that had previously been split between the employee and the company. Employees (and dependents of employees) who lost their jobs due to a lay-off that occurred between September 1, 2008 and March 31, 2010, may qualify for a federal subsidy designed to make COBRA coverage more affordable. The government subsidy covers 65% of your monthly COBRA premium for up to 15 months. There has been some discussion in Congress about extending the eligibility period for the COBRA subsidy but as of this date no extension has been signed into law.
Does my employer have to offer COBRA coverage?
Yes, under federal law, employers with 20 or more employees are generally required to offer COBRA coverage to eligible employees and their dependents when they experience a qualifying event that would result in a loss of health insurance coverage.
Where can one buy a Cobra Extension?
A COBRA Extension is not something that one can purchase. COBRA is a type of health coverage and an extension is something that is allowed in particular cases where there has been a death of the covered employee or a divorce from a covered employee in which case an extension of 18 months of coverage will be allowed.
What if the cobra insurance coverage is better than the new employer's insurance, can I still keep the cobra coverage?
If the COBRA insurance coverage is better than the new employer's insurance, you may choose to keep the COBRA coverage instead of enrolling in the new employer's insurance.
What happens to your medical insurance if you lose your job?
If you are covered by your employer and you leave your job or lose your job, your employer must offer you COBRA, which is a continuation of your medical benefits. Normally, you can stay on a COBRA plan for up to 36 months. Once you are no longer employed by your company, the medical benefits contributions will no longer apply, meaning you will have to pay the full cost of medical insurance yourself to the medical plan. The cost per month can vary, but will be clearly listed on your COBRA letter which outlines this service. You will receive your COBRA letter shortly after your last day of employment. If your employer has fewer then 20 employees, the US Labor Department will not enforce COBRA. If your employer does nothing, you are out of luck.
If required to offer COBRA then what are the basic responsibilities as an employer?
As the employer, it's your job to ensure all employees are aware of COBRA and its limitations. You're required to: - Provide written notification to all covered employees and their dependents about COBRA. This notification of rights must be provided (1) upon inception of coverage, (2) in the summary plan description, and (3) upon the occurrence of a qualifying event. - Maintain records that demonstrate your compliance with the COBRA law. Businesses that fail to comply with all aspects of COBRA can face legal issues and financial penalties.You can also take the help of human resource outsourcing companies like HGS that assure that the business is compliant with the laws and is able to save cost.
How do I enroll in COBRA?
To enroll in COBRA, you must notify your employer within 60 days of losing your job or experiencing a qualifying event. Your employer will then provide you with the necessary forms and information to continue your health insurance coverage through COBRA.
Is your health insurance covered if changing jobs?
I'm not sure what you mean by "covered". However, if the company you are leaving has at least 20 full time employees, you can pay to keep your coverage under COBRA until your new employer's coverage kicks in. However, COBRA rates are quite high as they are the rates your employer pays. Most states have a state continuation right if your company has less than 20 employees. See the Department of Labor website (dol.gov) for more information on state continuation/COBRA and your rights to continue coverage after you leave your job.
Is Cobra insurance affordable for someone on a budget?
No, it's not. When you're on COBRA, you have to pay the full group rate for your employer's plan, unsubsidized by your employer, which will usually be hundreds per month.
