If you change jobs, you have a right to carry your group health insurance coverage with you to your new job for up to eighteen months under the Congressional Omnibus (AHM-nuh-bus) Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA (KO-bruh). You cannot receive this benefit, however, if you are fired for cause or misconduct. With COBRA, you must still pay the full premium for the coverage, but at a group rate. Therefore, it is far less expensive than buying a similar policy at an individual rate. Health insurance coverage under COBRA, is also available for up to eighteen months for employees who leave a company to become unemployed or self-employed. In addition, COBRA is available to widows or widowers and children of employees who die while still working for the company, spouses who divorce employees, and employees' children. For additional information on COBRA, consult an insurance agent or broker.
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