What You Need to Do About Cobra Insurance Extension

As more and more Americans are laid off and the unemployment numbers in the country continue to rise, many of them are concerned about the loss of health insurance benefits. This double whammy of losing income and benefits at once can be devastating to a family. Fortunately, there is a government program called COBRA that allows anyone who loses their job to continue receiving health insurance. For many Americans who’s COBRA insurance is currently about to expire, a new COBRA Insurance Extension has recently been passed.

Too often, laid off or terminated employees feel that they do not need to opt for COBRA benefits. This could be a big mistake. For one thing, anyone who shows a lapse in health insurance coverage could have a difficult time being added to a new policy in the future. For another, it is impossible to predict when illness or an accident may affect you or your family members.

Who Qualifies?

The COBRA insurance extension provides supplemental health insurance that fills the gap between coverage due to unemployment. Your last employer is required to provide this option. You will qualify if you have had hours reduced and become a part-time employee ineligible for the employer’s health insurance benefit, laid off, or terminated for any reason other than gross misconduct. Insurance coverage extends to all dependants who were previously on your policy.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes a Cobra Extension that extends benefits to those former employees who were laid off or terminated between September 2008 and February 2009. If you still do not have health insurance due to an employment separation that occurred between that period of time, you can now elect to receive COBRA benefits.

The Cost of COBRA Insurance Extension

After separation from your employer, the company is required to offer COBRA benefits but they do not have to pay any portion of the monthly insurance premium - that is the responsibility of the former employee. Although you will pay more than your contribution while employed, it is still far less than individual plan coverage. Recently the federal government announced a 65% subsidy for those unable to afford the monthly premium under COBRA.

What to Do When You Lose Your Job

Your former employer is responsible for reporting COBRA eligibility of separated employees. Eligibility is determined by a number of factors, including the size of the company and what events occurred to cause the loss of the job. There are many rules and regulations so it may be beneficial to use the services of a company that can help you in the case of determined ineligibility.

You should also be aware that there are time limits in place. There is a 60-day period in which the separated employee can decide whether or not to receive continued health insurance coverage. After that, you will have 45 days to pay the initial premium.

Each health plan is subject to specific rules regarding how to file a claim for benefits. After filing a claim, you may be deemed ineligible. There are protocols in place that allow you to protest this assessment, and you must do so within 60 days. If you are not aware of the insurance rules and regulations in place, it might be best to use assistance in claiming COBRA benefits or submitting a protest.

Many times there are special circumstances that apply to continued health insurance coverage through COBRA insurance extension. Luckily, you do not need to sort out all the issues, rules, regulations, and specifics yourself. There are resources available to help those who are entitled to the benefits receive them. See the website for more details.

Looking to find more information on the Cobra Extension? Then visit www.cobraextension.org to find the best advice on Cobra Insurance Plan to help you.

Illinois Health Insurance is Non-Negotiable When It Comes To The H1N1 Virus

This year’s flu concerns should heed caution for individuals, who do not have Illinois health insurance. At present date, the H1NI has assumed 20 lives and hospitalized 476. [Source: Illinois Department of Health http://www.idph.state.il.us/h1n1_flu/sf_statistics.htm] Between the sick days, doctor’s visits and other medical necessities, the uncertainties of the H1N1 virus are too ominous to chance until the Obama health plan is finalized.

It is estimated that some 250,000 children in the state of Illinois do not have medical coverage. With the death of a Naperville high school student, uninsured families have a few affordable health care plans. [Source: http://www.allkidscovered.com/]

Forgoing Illinois health insurance proved to be a sickeningly expensive misstep for the Kronish family. When the head of the household loss his job, extending cobra benefits for a family of six seemed unreasonable. Besides, their four children aged 14, 13, 11 and eight were always healthy.

The Kronishs’ 11-year old son had an H1N1 scare that required urgent medical attention. Emergency room doctors ran tests, which lead to an overnight observation. Nerved by the sequence of events, the rest of the Kronish household was vaccinated. In the interim, forgoing Illinois health insurance cost the Kronish family the same amount it would cost to insure the whole family for a year $3875. The Kronish family remains uninsured and saddled with a new hospital bill. With any luck, they won’t endure another medical emergency, imposing additional financial duress.

Between the ER visit, five H1N1 vaccinations of $375, medical bills were a total of $3875, the same price it would have cost the family to maintain their cobra health benefits. Meanwhile, the Kronishs’ remain uninsured with a new hospital bill. Hopefully, they will not be struck by another medical emergency that will set them back even further, financially. In the interim, all Illinois health insurance plans are offering free vaccinations at the doctor’s office, health facility and designated companies (CVS, Osco-Drugs and Walgreens).

Sick days, doctor’s visits, and medications reflect just a few of the cost differentials between having Illinois health insurance and being uninsured. Most physicians and clinics charge $65 to $150 for a single medical visit. These fees do not include any vaccinations, antibiotics or other medical services. H1N1 is the perfect example of a simple emergency room and overnight observation can mount into a single expensive incident that otherwise an Illinois health insurance would cover.

Bookmark or visit Illinois Life & Health for more information pertaining to Illinois medical insurance. The site maintains the latest news, resources and a no obligation Illinois medical insurance quote, online.

The Costly Reality of Michigan Health Insurance Misconceptions

Available in a variety of Michigan health insurance plans, selecting the right policy leaves many consumers baffled and quite often with unsuitable policies or none at all. Shoppers, looking for the most affordable monthly premium, usually end up with medical coverage, garnering too many out-of-pocket costs. An inflating unemployment deficit and uninsured setbacks, coupled with skyrocketing hospital bills continue to plague Michigan’s financially distressed citizens.

Approximately, 47 percent of Americans don’t understand their health insurance or the difference between co-payment, deductible, and coinsurance. The problem is that consumers shopping for Michigan health insurance are unaware of what they’re buying. In the end, many are left to pay medical bills they thought their policy would cover.

Being pregnant for the first time, Wanda Jones 32, was overwhelmed with many emotions when she learned that her low-premium health plan did not completely cover the cost of her awaited arrival. Upon the purchase of medical coverage for her small business, she had the misconception that her $2000 deductible would include the entire cost of her pregnancy. Her joy quickly turned into stress when she discovered that she was responsible for an extra $4000 for the delivery.

Insurance analysts share that consumers often misconstrue the terms of having health insurance to mean that everything is covered. In the long run, confusion about medical coverage proves to be costly. As was the case of Ms. Jones, the owner of a craft shop in Ann Arbor, failure to ask specific questions changed the course of several events. Her deductible to deliver her baby was more than she held in her savings account. She admits that she may have rethought facing parenting on her own.

Mike Novelli, president of MichiganHealthandLife.com finds that unethical insurance brokers vend Michigan health insurance plans without disclosing all the details of the policies. Mr. Novelli recommends obtaining quotes from an insurance broker, who has an affiliation with a variety of Michigan health insurance plans. He also offers advice on avoiding unscrupulous brokers, “Shop for medical coverage from an ethical and experienced agent, who exudes the following qualities:

- Provides a comprehensive overview of each medical plan’s policies, defining low premiums with deductibles and coinsurance out-of-pocket costs.

- Never charges an application fee. (There is no cost to obtain a quote for Michigan health insurance).

- Offers professional, resourceful advice free of pushy sales tactics.

For more consumer information regarding medical coverage in Michigan, one of the best resources, featuring Michigan health insurance and free Michigan medical quotes is Michigan Health & Life.