Health Benefits Advisor

No Current Group Health Plan through My Former Employer

Your former employer, employee organization (such as a union), or both are not required to offer you and your family the opportunity to elect COBRA continuation coverage if your employer, employee organization, or both no longer sponsor a group health plan. Under special rules, if your employer was acquired by another business that provides group health benefits, the acquiring business may have a successor liability and a duty to offer your COBRA continuation coverage. See IRS final regulations for more information.

However, you should know that there are other options available that may assist you and your family in obtaining health coverage. For example, you and your family members may have special enrollment rights in a plan sponsored by your employer or in another group health plan. Or, you may also be eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) or other health coverage.

In choosing among the options available to you, you should review the SPD (summary plan description) for each available group health plan to determine which plan best meets your needs. You should also review and compare the information on the other coverages for which you are eligible. In making your decision, you may want to consider such things as:

1. Any waiting period (or affiliation period) under the plans;
2. Types of benefits offered (Is dependent coverage available? Do the benefits cover your family's medical needs?);
3. Cost of coverage (premiums, co-payments and deductibles for prescription drugs and doctor visits);
4. Limitations on coverage; and
5. Any exclusions from coverage (treatments, procedures, conditions or prescription drugs).

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