Cal-COBRA for an Illinois Resident?
If you are unable to obtain standard issue individual health insurance due to a pre-existing condition, you can apply for a guaranteed issue HIPAA plan in California. This is a permanent issue policy, meaning it does not have an 18 month enrollment limit like COBRA. You can stay on the plan as long as you continue to pay the premium and do not reach the lifetime maximum benefit associated with the HIPAA plan that you choose. You must enroll in a HIPAA plan within 63 days of the expiration date of your current COBRA plan. 4 CommentsLeave a comment |
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I am currently within the 18 months of COBRA from my former employer in Illinois. The medical plan is Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. Am I eligible for an additional 18 months under Cal-Cobra even if the plan is an Illinois medical plan? I’m confused as the plan is in Illinois, but covers beneficiaries in Calfornia.
According to the California Insurance Code 10128.59 “For the special Cal-COBRA extension to apply, you must have become eligible for COBRA after January 1, 2003, and the employer’s master policy must be issued in California. If the group master policy is not issued in California, then the employer must employ 51% or more of its employees in California and have its principal place of business in California for their California employees to take advantage of Cal-COBRA.”
Who do I call to find out more information about this HIPAA option?
Comment by William — October 17, 2006 @ 3:33 pm
Under California law, any insurance company that offers an individual health plan in that state must offer at least two of their plans “guaranteed issue” to HIPAA eligible persons. Contact a broker that represents many different insurance companies and can tell you what the HIPAA plan options and rates are for each of those companies. Let them know you want to look at HIPAA options from multiple carriers. If they don’t know what you are talking about, call another broker until you can find one that does. This would be easier than trying to call each of the health insurance companies separately.
Comment by Site Advisor — October 17, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
Thank you for the information on your site, but I am still a little confused about some of the options. I am trying to find out about health insurance in California and Cobra benefits, how do they work? If it matters, we are based in the state of California and have lived there the last 6 years. My husband is not happy with this job and is considering quitting to go somewhere else. What will happen with insurance if he does quit? Can he get Cobra if he quits his job? I have heard that Cobra is only for being laid of? Is that true? I must add that I am pregnant with our first child. Will this affect eligibility for Cobra? A friend of mine had a story to tell, where she was told to apply after she quit but was then denied. Do you have any other recommendations for health insurance in California?
Comment by Juanita — May 27, 2009 @ 9:06 am
You are still eligible for COBRA even if your husband leaves his job voluntarily. Since you are currently pregnant, you will need to accept your COBRA option. Your family members may have other options, depending on their health status
Comment by admin — May 27, 2009 @ 6:44 pm