Illinois makes modification to Mini-COBRA.
Who says that Illinois legislators don’t do anything? Effecitve in June the Illinois legislature enacted two modification to the health insurance regulations that have impact to you if you lose your job or quit.
Change # 1 – Prior to June 2009, if you left employment or had a reduction in working hours, you may have been eligible to elect Mini-Cobra. If you elected the coverage, you could keep your coverage for a period of up to 9 months. Under the new law, you may continue your coverage for up to 12 months.
Change #2 – This change is a temporary change that is effective immediately, but ends December 31, 2009. Previously, if you lost your job or your hours were reduced causing you to be eligible for Mini-COBRA, there was the additional requirement that you must have been insured on the plan for 90 days. Under the law change, you only need to be insured for 1 day, similar to COBRA rules. I expect this temporary law change to be extended.
Keep in mind you may also be eligible for ARRA, a 65% subsidy to your health insurance premiums provided by the federal goverment for those who were terminated from their job and their spouse was not eligible for group health insurance from their employer.
