Mark P. Scherzer Health Insurance Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Twenty five thousand workers are losing their jobs every week in New York State.  With unemployment often comes the loss of health coverage and other employee benefits.  To help New Yorkers understand their rights to maintain health coverage after they have been laid off or fired, the United Hospital Fund has published a free guide, "Hard Times and Health Insurance: Staying Covered When You Lose Your Job."   The booklet, available as a free download on the United Hospital Fund's website, was co-authored by Mark Scherzer and Peter Newell, the co-director of United Hospital Fund's Health Insurance Project.

The booklet gives a detailed description of your rights to various types of coverage when regular coverage through employment ends:  a special enrollment period in a spouse's or parent's health coverage,  COBRA coverage in your former employer's plan, continuation coverage in New York state insurance policies not subject to COBRA,  conversion policies and the purchase of individual coverage.  It tells you how to take advantage of the new federal subsidies under the terms of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that will pay 65% of the COBRA premiums for up to 9 months for people who involuntarily lost their jobs after September 1, 2008.  It also lists other sources of support for COBRA premiums which were passed as part of the federal stimulus package or are provided by the State.

Individuals who are laid off, who are losing their coverage through domestic partners or family members, or who work for companies that go bankrupt will all find useful information in this booklet.  Financial support for publication of the guide was provided by the New York State Health Foundation, whose mission is to expand health insurance coverage, increase access to high-quality health care services, and improve public and community health.