We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.
In Reply to: individual cobra conversion posted by dianne middlesworth on March 06, 2003 at 09:02:40:
Diane:
Contact your insurance carrier and also ask them about their HIPAA rates. Check your state law, they might have to gaurantee you a conversion policy, depending on where you reside.
Also keep in mind a conversion policy might have very limited benefits and a much higher cost.
Although COBRA specifies certain maximum required periods of time that continued health coverage must be offered to qualified beneficiaries, COBRA does not prohibit plans from offering continuation health coverage that goes beyond the COBRA periods.
From the law:
"Some plans allow beneficiaries to convert group health coverage to an individual policy. If this option is available from the plan under COBRA, it must be offered to you. In this case, the option must be given for the beneficiary to enroll in a conversion health plan within 180 days before COBRA coverage ends. The premium is generally not at a group rate. The conversion option, however, is not available if the beneficiary ends COBRA coverage before reaching the maximum period of entitlement"
If you are healthy, a conversion option may not be the cheapest way to go. Get
your own health insurance with a lower premium.
Please respond if you have further questions and keep us updated on your situation,
: I'm trying to find out if there is any type of cobra health insurance conversion after my cobra runs out. I'm trying to get a individual plan. thank you