Cal Cobra - California Cobra - 36 months of coverage and down to 2 employees

Cal-Cobra SB 719 California Continuation Benefits Replacement Act §10128.50 et seq. §1366.2 provides that you can keep your prior Employer Group Medical Coverage when there is a qualifying event, like losing your job, regardless of if you were laid off or fired, your child lost his student status or reached age 24 or you got divorced, for 18 months after Federal COBRA expires, even if you were an owner or partner of the company.

If you were with a small employer group (under 20 employees) that was not covered by Federal COBRA. Cal COBRA will provide a total of 36 months of coverage underAB 1401 before you need to get HIPAA

Steve talks about Cal - COBRA

If you lost your job between 9/1/2008 and 12/31/2009 you might be able to get a 65% credit on your COBRA and CAL COBRA premiums under the Stimulus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

We are unable to assist you in signing up or applying for COBRA or CAL COBRA, unless your Employer is a client of ours. You need to contact your former employer, or their Insurance Provider... Click here for the procedures.

Procedures to get Cal-COBRA or COBRA.

Check the Insurance Companies Administrative Manual, here's one for Blue Cross. Just go thru the table of contents or Index and find the proper section and forms. The Insurance Company should then send you the paperwork to sign up. In larger companies it may be the HR department, the owner of the business or the person in charge of the Insurance. If you have any problems, getting them to understand that you're entitled to COBRA or CAL COBRA just tell them to take a look at the Law, cited above. If you're a client of ours, then we can get you the forms to complete and send to the Insurance Company, to notify them of a qualifying event i.e, the employee no longer works there. The Insurance Company, will then send an "offer" - notification of COBRA rights, premiums, etc. to the former employee or dependent. If you want us to write the letter for you... that would be a $125 consultation fee.

Blue Shield Cal Cobra Form
or blue shield ca.com/
Election Forms

See also page 20 of Blue Shield Group Administrators Manual

Blue Shield
COBRA

Pacificare COBRA Form
Pacificare Cal COBRA

Kaiser
Cal Cobra Information Sheet
Enrollment Form
Procedures
Kaiser COBRA Form

Health Net Employer Manual - do a search

Consumer Links

Disability Benefits 101.org

Blue Shield's Q & A on AB 1401 for total of 36 months
DMHC Q & A 1401

Sample Employee Notification Letter

Department of Labor FAQ's

Blue Cross Small Group Employer's Administration Manual - Page 35 (Use search feature to check on COBRA & Cal COBRA procedures.)

If you're late on a payment there is a grace period in accordance with law 10128.57 a 2 and the companies routine practices.

Nevada COBRANRS 689B.245 Required provision concerning continuation of coverage.

Technical & Research Links

Don't Pick Up Cobra As Part of Your Next Deal - Negotiating COBRA Liability In Business Transactions Kenneth W. Ruthenberg Jr. 9/10/2002 Employee Benefit Attorneys Article

AB 112 revises provisions relating to noncore coverage, such as dental or vision coverage.

At one time there was Senior COBRA (allowed for terminated employees over age 60 to be covered until age 65 - Medicare eligibility) but that was eliminated under AB 254 effective 1/2005, except for those who already have it.

Health Coverage Eligibility Quiz

A CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO GETTING AND KEEPING HEALTH INSURANCE California