How to Stay on an Employer's Health Insurance Plan After Termination
- 1). Submit notification using first-class mail to your health plan administrator within 14 days after receiving a termination notice. You must provide notification within this period of time to qualify for COBRA coverage.
- 2). Review the Summary Plan Description provided by your health insurance company for more information about the procedure for applying for COBRA. In most cases, you will be required to fill out a brief form explaining the circumstances of your unemployment and formalizing your request to continue coverage under the COBRA program.
- 3). Wait for a reply from the insurance company. If your claim is denied, you have 90 days to appeal the decision. If the claim is accepted, coverage is retroactive to the day you were terminated.
- 4). Fill out the updated agreement with your insurance company under the COBRA plan. Expect to have to pay hundreds of dollars in additional premium payments every month. The premium payments may increase up to 102 percent of the original required monthly fee, and you'll be liable for paying the entire bill. You may be eligible for an extension past the 18-month additional coverage period if you become disabled, either temporarily or permanently.
Source...