health coverage after being laid off

[travlinlady23]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MO

Just got laid off due to budget cuts...I had health coverage and before being laid off, had to go to emergency room and will have on going problems..does the health insurance still cover these problems even thou I am no longer on the job?
Was two days in hospital, went back to work two days later and than was laid off on that same day. Thanks....

[ecmst12]

You will have to ask your HR rep. There are several possibilities. Either your health insurance will end on the date of your termination, on the last day of the month following your termination, or on the last date of the month PRIOR to your termination (less common). It's also possible that your health insurance will be covered for a time after your termination as part of a severence agreement. But in any case, you should be offered Cobra to cover any gap in coverage.

[SBillock]

Your coverage was still active at the time of your visit..it should still pay.

[ecmst12]

Like I said, there are rare cases where coverage terminates retroactively, prior to the last date of employment. This is usually when premiums are paid in arrears instead of ahead. Only OP's HR rep can say for sure.

[tqcajun]

MOST employer health plans terminate coverage on the last day of the month in which you worked (example if your last day worked was March 10th then your benefits would expire on March 31st). You do need to contact your HR Rep to make sure. Your insurance would cover anything prior to March 31st. Nothing after.

You CAN elect to continue your benefits through The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) if your group health plan sponsored by your employer had 20 or more employees .

Also, with the new stimulus package, the government (with the cost being fronted by your employer) will pay up to 65% or your COBRA premium for an involuntary separation (which a lay off due to reduction in force qualifies as).

Hope this helps and good luck!
HR MGR

[cbg]

I have one minor issue with the above response. I take issue with "most" plans extend to the end of the month.

Maybe it's regional and it's different where you are, but in my part of the country it's about 50/50 between end of the month/last day of employment.

But, as I say, that's only a minor issue.

[lkc15507]

Ok, two things. 1) agree w/CBG that "most" is misleading. Read your plan for term date. It could be defined many ways. 2) Never makes me popular to disagree with folks, but the response by SBillok has absolutely no basis in fact. That response would lead many astray and would be dead wrong in most situations. Only the tiniest of applications is that response correct. lkc15507