Employers Must Notify Laid-Off Workers of Health-Care Options, New Rule Says

[ProSense]

Employers Must Notify Laid-Off Workers of Health-Care Options, New Rule Says

Laid-Off Workers Will Get Notices on Eligibility for Insurance Exchanges as Alternative to Cobra

Employers must inform laid-off employees that they are eligible to buy health-care coverage through new online insurance exchanges as an alternative to paying full premiums for their old employer policies, the Obama administration said Friday.

Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or Cobra, workers who lose their jobs have long had the option of staying on their company insurance as long as they pay their share of the premium, as well as the share their employer had been paying for them.

Since employers often pay the majority of workers' premiums, the cost of continuing coverage often came as a shock to people, although some elected to bear the expense anyway because they needed to continue receiving care.

The Department of Labor and Department of Health and Human Services set new guidance for employers on Friday requiring them to tell workers who lose their employer-sponsored insurance about new options to get coverage on their own, as well as their eligibility for Cobra.

- more -

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303948104579538423900595810

[oneofthe99]

1. I hope one day I can see

where health coverage isn't tied to your employer , one of the biggest mistakes we ever made in this country.

[warrior1]

2. awesome

[ProSense]

3. Laid off,

fired or resigned, people can now access coverage via the exchanges.

Obamacare Enrollment Is Far From Over
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024764970