Health Insurance

13 If You Lose Your Group Health Benefits If you lose your job or your hours are cut, you may also lose your group health benefits. • You may be able to buy continuation health coverage. (See below.) • Or you may be able to buy an individual policy (see page 14). • Or you may qualify for a public program (see page 17). • Or you may be able to get on your spouse or partner’s group insurance. Try to do this as soon as possible, to avoid a gap in coverage. You can keep your employers health coverage You and your dependents may be able to keep your existing health coverage even if you lose your group health benefits. These options are called continuation coverage. If you lose your coverage, your employer must provide you with information on your options for continuing your existing coverage. You may see options with names like COBRA , Cal- COBRA , Conversion or HIPPA . If you choose one of these options: • You have to pay all of the premium. • After you use up one kind of continuation coverage, you may be eligible for another kind of coverage. • There are deadlines and other requirements for each kind of continuation coverage. If you have any questions about your options, contact the Consumer Hotline at the Department of Insurance (800) 927- 4357 for assistance.