Keeping Your Health Insurance

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Ironically, workers have more rights to health insurance coverage after they lose their jobs than while employed. This is because of a 1986 law, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Under COBRA, employers with 20 or more employees must offer them the option of continuing to be covered by the company's group health insurance plan at the workers' own expense for a specific period--often 18 months--after employment ends. Family coverage is also included. In some other circumstances, such as the death of an employee, that employee's dependents can continue coverage for up to 36 months.