Health coverage after a layoff - abc7news.com

10.01.09

5 Steps to Take for Holding on to Your Insurance Coverage

1. COBRA. While this may be the most expensive option, it's a good one for someone with a pre-existing medical condition. For people recently laid off, the first, immediate option to review is COBRA coverage. COBRA is required of businesses with 20 or more employees. It provides continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated. One common myth about COBRA coverage is that it is only good for 18 months, but quite often this is not the case as it can be continued indefinitely through state COBRA programs. First steps include checking with the employer's human resources department to receive complete information on how to qualify for COBRA, the costs and how to apply. If COBRA is an option, it should be carefully reviewed before being refused as once it's dismissed, it can't be recalled.

2. Going from a double- to a single-income family. For the family in a two-income home where one parent has been laid off, checking into programs like Healthy Families is an important step. In many states, a family of 4 can make up to $60,000 (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, D.C.) and in other states up to $50,000 a year (Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Washington) and still qualify the children for comprehensive coverage. These programs may provide low-cost health coverage for children and teens up to age 19 including comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage. Moving the family's young dependents from private insurance to government sponsored plans can reduce monthly premiums and perhaps make a family's adult private premium coverage affordable.

Source: abc7news.com, CA

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