COBRA Health Insurance- What is it?

What is Cobra? And how do I figure this out? There is a huge challenge
faced by many people today; you've just been leg go by your employer.
Basically, you have no income, and no health insurance benefits.
Currently, the last thing you want to do is send money to your
ex-employer for health insurance benefits. However, that is most
likely what you'll need to do. Are you covered? You are likely
eligible to be covered by your employer's COBRA health insurance plan.
You must pay the premiums yourself; you will be eligible to remain
covered, without any lapse in benefits, by your previous employers
plan.

What is COBRA and how do I get it? Prior to 1986, loss of employment
would also mean loss of you and your families health insurance
coverage (if they were also covered by your employer). In 1986, the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) was passed.
COBRA health insurance provides you the right to extend your
employer-provided health insurance coverage. You continue to receive
the same benefits, but at your own expense.

In all instances COBRA health insurance requires your previous
employer to offer their health insurance coverage to covered
employees, and their covered dependents. Slough, there are certain
qualifying conditions, this will most likely be a good option if you
are not a healthy individual. These conditions include the death of
the employee, termination (fired, or laid off through no fault of the
employee), a reduction in work hours except if due to gross employee
misconduct, a spouse's divorce or legal separation from the covered
employee, a covered employee being eligible for Medicare, or a child
that loses his dependent status under the plan. The COBRA health
insurance program covers many contingencies.

Insurance professional Morgan Moran says, "COBRA health insurance
provisions will apply to private employers with at least 20 employees.
Individual state and local governments may also make rules regarding
eligibility for COBRA health insurance. Take note that the COBRA
health insurance provisions don't apply to health insurance plans
sponsored by the Federal government. Also, these provisions don't
apply to certain church sponsored insurance plans, or certain
church-related organizations.

If you are a former employee who has elected to receive the
continuation offered by COBRA health insurance agree to take over
payment of the plan's premiums. The former employer has the optional
right to charge an administrative fee of up to 1%.
If you lose eligibility for group coverage for yourself, or your
dependents, there may be another option. Automatically enrolling in
COBRA health insurance may not be your best bet. You may have the
right to "special enroll" (without waiting for an open enrollment
season) in other available group health coverage. Before deciding to
enroll in COBRA health insurance, be sure to carefully weigh all your
options.

If enrolling in COBRA health insurance is your only option, then get
the coverage. Continue to protect yourself, and your family until you
find a new employer, or new insurance. Contact your state's Department
of Insurance to learn your full rights under COBRA health insurance."
In many instances you may qualify for an individual health insurance
policy. If you need help on where to find more information on
Individual Health Insurance coverage please visit your trusted source
for health insurance at www.FloridaHealthInsuranceWeb.com