• Job loss doesn't have to mean loss of insurance.health image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  In 1986, Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act to give workers leaving a job the chance to continue group health insurance coverage. The coverage is best known by its acronym: COBRA. COBRA is a federal program, but Maryland's Continuation Coverage Law provides insurance guarantees at the state level.
  
  

Employer Size

• If you are enrolled in your company's group plan, and your company employs 20 or more people, you may be eligible to continue coverage under COBRA. Maryland's Continuation Coverage Law applies to employers of any size, but certain conditions must be met. Maryland's law applies only to group policies with a Maryland contract and those that are not self-funded.
  
  

Eligibility

• To be covered by the Maryland Continuation Coverage Law, you must quit your job voluntarily or be terminated involuntarily but not for cause. You must have been covered under the employer's group health plan for at least three months before leaving the job. In addition, you must be a resident of Maryland.
  
  

Deadlines

• Employees who want to continue coverage should notify the employer as soon as possible. The law requires the employer to supply an election notification form within 14 days of receiving the coverage request. The form must be filled out, signed and returned to the employer within 45 days of leaving the job.
  
  

Other Options

• If you lose your job, the Maryland Insurance Administration says there are other insurance options to consider. You may qualify for an individual conversion policy or purchase an individual health insurance policy. Medicare is a possibility for those meeting certain age and health requirements. Coverage could be available through the state's Medicaid program for those meeting certain income requirements. For those who are pregnant or raising children, coverage could be available through the Maryland Child Health Insurance Program. Maryland also offers a program through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for families with limited income.