COBRA Health Insurance - The 60 Day Window

What is required to sign up for individual healthOne other helpful feature about COBRA health
insurance under COBRA?insurance is that the coverage is retroactive. In
Fortunately, not much.other words, if you haven't yet signed up for
As long as your employer had a group health planCOBRA, you can still be covered by your old
for 20 or more employees, you can sign up forinsurance plan by electing to sign up for COBRA
COBRA. COBRA is also available if you are awithin the 60 day window.
member of an employee organization (e.g. aAs an example, let's say you leave your current
union), or if you work for the government.employer and find another job that will offer you
It does not matter if you quit or were laid off, orhealth coverage, but the new job doesn't start
whether you were working part-time or full-time.for 45 days. Then, two weeks after you leave
Timing is important, however. To enroll in COBRA,your previous job, you require hospitalization. You
you must elect coverage within 60 days of yourcan still be covered by your health insurance plan,
departure from your former employer.as long as you are within the 60 day window.
How do I enroll?(Note: You will also generally be covered under
Enrollment is a matter of filling out an applicationyour employer's plan through the end of the
form that should be provided by your formermonth during which your employment ends.)
employer when you leave. If you were previouslyThe 60 day window for COBRA health insurance
covered under your employer's health plan andworks to your benefit. It enables you to search
have not received information about COBRA,for alternative health coverage during that time
contact your human resources or benefitsperiod, without the risk of going without health
manager immediately.insurance. If you don't find a better alternative,
The 60 Day Windowyou can always sign up for COBRA.