COBRA Health plan Advice for Individuals and Small Businesses

Re: Conversion Policy after 18 months

We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.

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Posted by Fred on February 10, 2010 at 17:32:18:

In Reply to: Conversion Policy after 18 months posted by T Benedict on February 09, 2010 at 12:49:09:

T:

There is no Federal Law.

COBRA does not prohibit plans from offering continuation health coverage that goes beyond the COBRA periods.

Some plans allow participants and beneficiaries to convert group health coverage to an individual policy. If this option is generally available from the plan, a qualified beneficiary who pays for COBRA coverage must be given the option of converting to an individual policy at the end of the COBRA continuation coverage period. The option must be given to enroll in a conversion health plan within 180 days before COBRA coverage ends. The premium for a conversion policy may be more expensive than the premium of a group plan, and the conversion policy may provide a lower level of coverage. The conversion option, however, is not available if the beneficiary ends COBRA coverage before reaching the end of the maximum period of COBRA coverage.

Fred

: Is it a law that a Conversion Policy be offered at the end of the original Cobra 18 months?

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Subject: Re: Re: Conversion Policy after 18 months

Comments:
: T: : : There is no Federal Law. : : COBRA does not prohibit plans from offering continuation health coverage that goes beyond the COBRA periods. : : Some plans allow participants and beneficiaries to convert group health coverage to an individual policy. If this option is generally available from the plan, a qualified beneficiary who pays for COBRA coverage must be given the option of converting to an individual policy at the end of the COBRA continuation coverage period. The option must be given to enroll in a conversion health plan within 180 days before COBRA coverage ends. The premium for a conversion policy may be more expensive than the premium of a group plan, and the conversion policy may provide a lower level of coverage. The conversion option, however, is not available if the beneficiary ends COBRA coverage before reaching the end of the maximum period of COBRA coverage. : : Fred : : : : Is it a law that a Conversion Policy be offered at the end of the original Cobra 18 months? :

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