We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.
In Reply to: cobra for small buisneses posted by kristin saletra on August 30, 2003 at 15:35:15:
Kristin,
The law generally covers group health plans maintained by employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year. There are states that have exceptions to this that offer "mini-cobra" however if you do not live in one of the states then COBRA will not be offered.
I work in the employee benefits field and used to work at insurance carrier Aetna with employer groups. This was a sensitive topic however there is documentation out there from COBRA reinforcing the above.
Are you employed and if so eligble for health benefits? If you are then with your husband losing his job this would be considered a qualifying event and you could go on your employer group health plan the day your coverage ended.
If this is not the case then you may want to contact the insurance carrier that your coverage was with and inquire about a conversion policy. A conversion policy is different from COBRA beacuse the plan will not be the same as your group health plan and more expensive however you would have coverage.
Otherwise you are correct that individual medical plans do look at pre existing conditions and can decline coverage.
Not sure if I was helpful. I saw your note and wanted to reach out to you. Mayve try to contact your state representative to see if their are other options.
Good luck.
Shari