{"id":96590,"date":"2023-02-16T10:28:08","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T10:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=96590"},"modified":"2023-02-16T10:28:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T10:28:12","slug":"what-is-cobra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/insurance\/what-is-cobra\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT IS COBRA: Definition, How It Works & Benefit","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) permits employees to continue receiving the advantages of health insurance coverage for themselves and any qualifying dependents even after losing their job or having their work hours reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COBRA insurance may provide you with temporary health coverage if you lose your job or are otherwise eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is COBRA? <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When an employee loses their job or has their work hours reduced, they have the option to continue their health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. If an employer has 20 or more full-time equivalent employees, most states mandate that they offer COBRA coverage. The length of COBRA’s health insurance coverage varies depending on the situation and is either 18 or 36 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost of COBRA insurance is usually high because the newly unemployed person is responsible for covering the entire premium (employers typically pay a sizable portion of employee healthcare premiums). You can continue to use your employee health plan despite no longer being employed by your former employer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals may continue on their health plans for a brief period in certain circumstances, such as job loss, etc. But not everybody qualifies for these advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is COBRA Insurance?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the US, large employers, those with 50 or more full-time workers, are required to provide health insurance to their qualified employees. They can do this by paying a portion of the insurance premiums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an employee is no longer eligible for the employer’s health insurance benefits, which can happen for several reasons, the employer may stop paying the employee’s insurance premium contributions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, under COBRA, the employee and their dependents can keep their insurance coverage for a predetermined period if they are willing to pay for it themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The option to continue their health insurance at group rates under this insurance is available to former spouses, children under the age of 18, and spouses of former employees. If they choose not to, their insurance company will cancel their coverage. However, because the employer won’t be covering the full cost of the premiums, these people will probably have to pay more for health insurance through COBRA than they did when they were employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put it simply, “having COBRA insurance” means that you and your covered family members will continue to use the group insurance offered by your employer after a qualifying life event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term “qualifying life events” refers to alterations in your situation that might make you or a member of your family ineligible for protection under a group health insurance plan offered by your employer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples include the insured employee quitting their job or reaching Medicare<\/a> eligibility at age 65. In addition, it might refer to the insured worker’s divorce or demise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does COBRA Insurance Work? <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your previous employer offered group medical insurance and had more than 20 employees, you may be eligible to apply for COBRA. People who obtain employer-based insurance from businesses with fewer than 20 employees, the federal government, churches, or other related organizations are not eligible for this insurance coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you enroll in your job’s health plan, and the workplace has at least 20 employees, then you will be eligible for its insurance coverage. You are also eligible if your health plan is still active, or a qualifying event caused you to lose coverage. The following are also eligible for COBRA coverage; your spouse, former spouses, and dependent children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get information on COBRA coverage from either your employer, or your insurance provider.  When you first enroll, your insurance provider must include information about COBRA rights in your plan documents. If you choose to continue receiving health insurance under COBRA, you have up to 60 days to make your decision. Your health insurance will expire on the day that coverage under your employer’s plan expires if you don’t elect to continue it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to continue your employer’s plan coverage, your coverage will start the day after it expires. It will offer all of the benefits that you enjoyed from your employer’s group plan. You can continue to follow the terms of the current plan and see the same medical professionals and other service providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The COBRA coverage period can last for either 18 or 36 months. Your response will depend on the type of qualifying event that made you eligible for this insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t pay your insurance premiums or other associated costs, your COBRA insurance terminates early. If you land a job that provides health insurance before it expires, the insurance might also cancel your plan. Contact your insurance company for further inquiries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are COBRA Benefits?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n