Losing your job can be tough, especially when it comes to keeping your health insurance.
COBRA coverage can help you stay insured during this transition.
If you’re in California, you have options to keep your health plan through COBRA or Cal-COBRA.
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To sign up for COBRA in California, you need to act fast. You have 60 days from the day your job-based coverage ends to enroll in COBRA. Your employer or their insurance company should send you information about how to sign up.
If you don’t get this info, reach out to your former employer’s HR department right away.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure COBRA is right for you.
You can also check out Covered California for other health insurance options.
They might have plans that cost less than COBRA.
Key Takeaways
- You have 60 days to sign up for COBRA after losing job-based health coverage
- Your former employer should give you COBRA enrollment information
- Covered California offers alternative health insurance options to compare with COBRA
Understanding COBRA Coverage in California
COBRA and Cal-COBRA offer ways to keep your health insurance after leaving a job.
These programs have different rules and timeframes that you need to know about.
Overview of COBRA and Cal-COBRA
COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.
It’s a federal law that lets you keep your group health plan when your job ends or your hours are cut.
Cal-COBRA is California’s version of this law.
COBRA applies to employers with 20 or more workers.
If your company is smaller, you might qualify for Cal-COBRA instead.
This covers businesses with 2 to 19 employees.
With COBRA, you can usually keep your coverage for 18 months.
Cal-COBRA can extend this for another 18 months, giving you up to 36 months of coverage in total.
Eligibility Criteria for COBRA and Cal-COBRA
To be eligible for COBRA, you must have been part of your employer’s group health plan.
You also need to have a qualifying event, like losing your job or having your hours reduced.
For Cal-COBRA, the rules are similar.
You need to have had coverage through a small employer in California.
Qualifying events include job loss, reduced hours, divorce, or aging out of a parent’s plan.
Both programs require you to sign up within 60 days of your qualifying event.
You’ll have to pay the full premium yourself, plus a small admin fee.
Remember, these programs are meant to be temporary.
You might want to look into other options, like Covered California, for more affordable long-term coverage.
Enrolling in COBRA Coverage
Signing up for COBRA coverage in California involves several key steps.
You’ll need to understand the process, choose a plan, and figure out the costs involved.
Navigating the Enrollment Process
When you lose your job, your employer must tell you about COBRA within 14 days.
You’ll get an election notice explaining your rights.
You have 60 days to decide if you want COBRA.
This starts from when you get the notice or when your coverage ends, whichever is later.
To sign up, fill out the form in your election notice and send it back.
Make sure you do this before the deadline.
If you miss it, you might lose your chance to get COBRA.
Remember, COBRA lets you keep the same health plan you had at work.
This means you can see the same doctors and use the same hospitals.
Choosing a Health Plan
With COBRA, you keep the plan you had through your job.
But you can change your coverage during open enrollment, just like when you were employed.
You might want to compare COBRA to other options, like plans from Covered California.
Look at things like:
- What doctors and hospitals you can use
- What the plans cover
- How much they cost
Covered California has a tool to help you shop and compare plans.
This can help you decide if COBRA or a new plan is better for you.
Understanding Premiums and Financial Help
COBRA can be pricey.
You pay the full cost of your plan, plus a 2% fee.
Your old job isn’t helping pay anymore.
Your monthly premium might shock you.
It’s often much more than you paid while working.
But it’s usually less than buying a similar plan on your own.
You might get help paying for COBRA through your state or former employer.
Some companies offer to pay part of COBRA costs for a while.
If COBRA is too expensive, check out Covered California.
You might qualify for financial help there.
This could make your insurance much cheaper than COBRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
COBRA coverage in California has specific rules and timelines.
You need to know who can get it, how to sign up, and how long it lasts.
Who is eligible for COBRA coverage in California?
You can get COBRA if you worked for a company with 20 or more employees.
If your job ended or your hours were cut, you might qualify.
Your spouse and kids could also be eligible.
Can I enroll in California COBRA coverage online, and if so, how?
Most times, you can’t sign up for COBRA online in California.
You’ll usually get papers in the mail.
You need to fill these out and send them back.
What are the steps to initiate COBRA coverage after leaving my job?
After you leave your job, your employer should tell you about COBRA.
You’ll get a packet with info.
Fill out the forms and send them back.
You have 60 days to decide if you want COBRA.
Are employees automatically enrolled in COBRA, or must they opt in?
You must opt in to get COBRA.
It’s not automatic.
You have to choose to sign up and pay for it.
For how long can one benefit from COBRA coverage in California?
COBRA usually lasts up to 18 months.
In some cases, you might get it for longer.
It depends on why you lost your job.
What’s the window period for enrolling in COBRA after leaving a company in California?
You have 60 days to sign up for COBRA after you leave your job.
This is called your election period.
Don’t miss this deadline or you might lose your chance.
