|
Business
Insurance
Group
Health Plan
Some
employers offer only one health insurance plan. Some offer a
choice of plans: a fee-for-service plan, a health maintenance
organization (HMO), or a preferred provider organization (PPO),
for example. Employers with 25 or more workers are required by
Federal law to offer employees the chance to enroll in an HMO.
A Federal law makes it possible for most people to continue
their group health coverage for a period of time. Called COBRA
(for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985), the law requires that if you work for a business of 20
or more employees and leave your job or are laid off, you can
continue to get health coverage for at least 18 months. You
will be charged a higher premium than when you were working.
You also will be able to get insurance under COBRA if
your spouse was covered but now you are widowed or divorced.
If you were covered under your parents' group plan while you
were in school, you also can continue in the plan for up to 18
months under COBRA until you find a job that offers you your
own health insurance.
Not all employers offer health insurance. You might find this
to be the case with your job, especially if you work for a
small business or work part-time. If your employer does not
offer health insurance, you might be able to get group
insurance through membership in a labor union, professional
association, club, or other organization. Many organizations
offer health insurance plans to members.
|
