Washington DC Mini COBRA applies to insurance plans whose employers have less than 20 employees for a period of three months following the loss of health insurance coverage. Eligible employees pay the full price of their health insurance and the cost may not exceed 102 percent of the group rate. Additionally, eligible employees must elect the continuation of coverage benefits and provide payment to the employer within prescribed time frames.
Washington DC COBRA Continuation is not required for:
People who are eligible for Medicare
People who qualify for another group policy that provides comprehensive health insurance coverage, without penalizing for pre-existing conditions.
Individual stops making premium payments
Individuals qualify for Medicare
Plan ends and is not replaced
Individuals who change to individual policies give-up continuation rights to their group plans. Individuals may convert their group coverage at the end of 18-36 month continuation coverage period.
The law applies only if the group plan covers more than 15 individuals and only individuals who are members of a class that is eligible by the succeeding carrier, regardless of circumstances such as confinement in a hospital or status at work.
Converting DC Group Health
Group health and accident plans should allow employees, members, and covered dependents to transfer to individual health insurance policies if their coverage becomes terminated, except for:
Participants that stopped paying premiums
The group health plan ended and was not replaced within 31 days
Individuals who are qualify for Medicare
Individuals who become covered under another group plan that covers-re-existing conditions
Those who convert their health insurance must apply in writing to the health insurance carrier within 30 days of termination of coverage.
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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People who are eligible for Medicare
Individual stops making premium payments
