If your group heath plan is a fully insured health insurance policy and you are a resident of N.H. then you may be eligible for N.H. State Continuation which allows for you and your dependents to continue on the group health (medical and dental) insurance plan at the employer's full price, plus a 2% administrative fee. This option is available to all sized employers who are fully insured.
20 or more employees - Employers with 20 or more employees offering a fully insured health plan can also offer COBRA. You can elect either N.H. State Continuation or COBRA but not both.
Bankruptcy or Cancellation of Plan - 39 Week Continuation -If your employer discontinues the fully insured health (medical and dental) insurance plan or closes it's business and you are a resident of N.H. and working in N.H. you may be eligible for 39 week continuation. This option allows for you and your dependents to continue on the group health insurance plan at the employer's full price plus a 2% administrative fee for a period of 39 weeks. If this occurs, ask your employer or insurance carrier about this option. Contact the N.H. Insurance Department. RSA 415:18 XVI (a-d)
Health Care Tax Credits -The Health Care Tax Credits Act (HCTC) helps certain trade affected workers, retirees and their family pay for their health benefit plan premiums. The HCTC makes health coverage more affordable by paying 65% of the health premiums for individuals who are eligible for the tax credit. HCTC's are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government.
Who enforces the New Hampshire Mini COBRA Law
Jurisdiction - The N.H. Insurance Department has jurisdiction over insurance companies and group health insurance contracts that are issued to N.H. residents. We may be reached at 800-852-3416, option 2, 603-271-2261 or via e-mail at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.
Federal COBRA law
Under COBRA, a terminated employee is entitled to continue his or her group health insurance for 18-36 months. The employee is entitled to the same coverage as current employees, since it is a seamless continuation of the current plan.
Cobra Insurance Notice
Most problems and confusion regarding COBRA Insurance involve misinformed employers who aren't aware they're supposed to offer employees COBRA. Read our Sample COBRA Notice. Also some employees thinking they should get their COBRA upon termination. Read about COBRA notification time requirements.
COBRA Insurance Cost
The 65% COBRA subsidy was for employees losing their health insurance from
Sept. 1, 2008 to after May 31st, 2010. That was part of the stimulus bill. Now the employee will be required to pay the full cost of health insurance, including any portion formerly paid by the employer. In addition, the employer can charge a 2% COBRA administration fee, bringing the total payment to 102% of the premium.
Who Qualifies for COBRA?
Employers with over 20 full time employers usually have to offer COBRA to an employee within 45-60 days of the qualifying event. Qualifying events include the employee losing their health insurance for a variety of reasons including a reduction in hours or termination. Dependents who lose insurance for other reasons, such as divorce, also qualify for COBRA. Exceptions include employees terminated for willful gross misconduct, employers with less than 20 total employees, non profits or churches organizations.
No Mini Cobra Coverage
47 of the 50 U.S. states have COBRA laws that cover smaller employers, generally called state mini-cobra laws. States that have not passed a mini-cobra law include Alabama, Alaska, and Delaware.
Among States that have mini-cobra laws, the lengths of coverage vary from 30 days to 36 months. Please refer to our Mini State COBRA Law Directory.
About COBRA
Employers who offer group health care plans to a minimum of 20 employees must comply with ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974). The Federal version or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA), requires that most group health plans provide 18-36 months of continuing health insurance.
No Mini Cobra Coverage
47 of the 50 U.S. states have COBRA laws that cover smaller employers, generally called state mini-cobra laws. States that have not passed a mini-cobra law include Alabama, Alaska, and Delaware.
Among States that have mini-cobra laws, the lengths of coverage vary from 30 days to 36 months. Please refer to our Mini State COBRA Law Directory.
Written by Craig J. Casey
Craig Casey is an Writer, Coach, Blogger, Husband, and Former Health Insurance Agent helping people on the web since 1999 with their health insurance problems.
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