How do you know if you qualify for continued health coverage?
If you lose your health insurance how do you know if you qualify to get continuing coverage? There are certain things called “qualifying events” that help you determine if you can get continuing coverage under a COBRA plan.
If you are an employee of a company than the following would qualify you for continuing coverage:
- Voluntary or involuntary termination of an employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct.
- Reduction in hours worked by a covered employee.
The following would qualify you for COBRA coverage as a spouse of a covered employee:
- Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct.
- Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee.
- Covered employee becomes entitled to Medicare.
- Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee.
- Death of a covered employee.
The following is a list of what may qualify a dependent child for continued health care coverage:
- Loss of dependent child status under the employer’s health care plan rules.
- Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct.
- Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee.
- Covered employee becomes entitled to Medicare.
- Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee.
- Death of a covered employee.
It is important to note that employees who have health care coverage through their employer are not the only ones effected by a change in their status with a company or by a “qualifying event”. Spouses, former spouses and children are also able to qualify for continued health insurance coverage as well.
Submitted by:
Meg Eynon, Vice President