Washington COBRA Continuation Coverage
Losing your healthcare coverage can be devastating, especially if you have costly medical bills and you are unable to afford an individual health insurance plan for yourself and your loved ones. Fortunately, there is a federal law in place that entitles eligible employees in Washington and their family members to a temporary extension of benefits in circumstances where their group health plan would otherwise be terminated, due to job loss, reduced work hours or death of the covered employee, among other qualifying events. If you live in Washington, and you have lost your employer-sponsored health benefits, you may be able to temporarily extend your group health plan under the federal COBRA law. Consult an experienced COBRA insurance lawyer today to explore your legal rights.
What is COBRA?
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a federal law that allows employees and members of their immediate family to continue their group health plan for a limited period of time in certain situations where their group coverage would otherwise end. These so-called “qualifying events” may include the following:
- Job loss, except due to gross misconduct
- A reduction in work hours
- Divorce or legal separation from the covered employee
- Death of the covered employee
- The covered employee becomes eligible for Medicare
- Loss of “dependent” status under the health plan’s provisions
COBRA continuation coverage only applies to employers who had 20 or more employees in the previous year, and extends from the date of the qualifying event for a limited period of 18 or 36 months, depending on the type of qualifying event. The state of Washington also requires that employees who are out of work as a result of a strike be permitted to pay group insurance carriers directly for their healthcare coverage for up to six months.
State Continuation Coverage in Washington
Unlike other states with “mini-COBRA” programs, Washington has not enacted a state law that provides a similar continuation of healthcare coverage for employees who work for businesses with fewer than 20 employees or who otherwise do not qualify for COBRA continuation coverage under federal law. This means that Washington employees who lose their employer-sponsored health plans are only eligible for a temporary extension of health benefits under the federal COBRA law. However, under Washington law, conversion, or the right to convert to individual coverage when a group health plan ends, must be offered in nearly all situations where group health coverage ends, except in cases where an employee is terminated for misconduct (spouses and dependents are still entitled to conversion in this case), becomes eligible for Medicare, or is covered under another group plan.
Contact an Experienced COBRA Attorney Today for Help
COBRA continuation coverage allows eligible employees, their spouses, former spouses, and dependent children to keep their health benefits in circumstances where they would otherwise lose coverage, ensuring that they remain protected while looking for another job or researching individual health insurance plans. If you have lost your health benefits due to a qualifying event, like job loss or divorce, and you believe you may be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage, contact a knowledgeable COBRA attorney today. With a qualified lawyer on your side, you can ensure that your rights are protected, and get the healthcare coverage you and your family are entitled to.
