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Keeping Coverage

Middle-aged African-American woman seated at her kitchen table talking on the phone

Eleanor lost her job, and it took eight months to find a new one. “I kept my HMO through COBRA. I had to pay the whole monthly premium and I had to pay it on time or I would have lost my coverage.”

Read Eleanor’s story.

Try to stay insured. It is usually easier to keep your current plan than to qualify for and buy a new one.

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Avoid a gap in coverage

If you do change plans, try to make sure your new coverage starts before you drop the old one. In general, it is easier to get a new plan if you avoid a gap in coverage of over two months (62 days).

If your job ends or your hours are cut

There are laws that let you keep your group plan for up to 36 months and then buy individual insurance. You must pay the premiums yourself, but the cost and benefits may be better than you could get if you bought insurance on your own. And you cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

  • You can keep your group plan up to 36 months with programs called COBRA/Cal-COBRA  .
  • When you use up COBRA/Cal-COBRA, you have the right to buy individual coverage  . Ask your plan about HIPAA and conversion coverage plans, two kinds of individual coverage.
  • Be sure to meet the deadlines for signing up for COBRA, Cal-COBRA, HIPAA, or conversion coverage. If your coverage is ending soon, ask your employer or plan about signing up.

If your employer stops offering health coverage

  • In this case, you cannot get COBRA/Cal-COBRA, but you may have the right to buy individual insurance  .
  • Ask your current health plan about HIPAA and conversion coverage.
  • Be sure to meet the deadlines for signing up for HIPAA or conversion coverage. If your coverage is ending soon, ask your employer or plan about signing up.

Compare your options

In some cases insurance you get on your own costs less than COBRA, Cal-COBRA, HIPAA, or conversion coverage. Compare plans to select the best choice for you and your family.

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