Frequently Asked Questions
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Health plans will be prohibited from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. This applies to all non-grandfathered and grandfathered plans.
All non-grandfathered group health plans must provide coverage for preventive services. Recommended prevention and vaccination services will be covered without any deductibles or copayments. Plans must also have a straightforward and independent appeals process so you can appeal decisions by your health insurance company.
Effective for plan years beginning on or after Aug. 1, 2012, non-grandfathered health plans must provide additional preventive services for women without cost sharing, such as coverage for well woman visits, breastfeeding support and contraception. Exceptions to the contraceptive coverage requirement apply to religious employers.
No. The health care reform law did not extend the maximum time periods of continuation coverage provided by COBRA. COBRA establishes required periods of coverage for continuation health benefits. A plan, however, may provide longer periods of coverage beyond those required by COBRA.
COBRA beneficiaries generally are eligible for group coverage during a maximum of 18 months for qualifying events due to employment termination or reduction of hours of work. Certain qualifying events, or a second qualifying event during the initial period of coverage, may permit a beneficiary to receive a maximum of 36 months of coverage. Individuals who become disabled can extend the 18 month period of continuation coverage for a qualifying event that is a termination of employment or reduction of hours.
To qualify for additional months of COBRA continuation coverage, the qualified beneficiary must:
- Have a ruling from the Social Security Administration that he or she became disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA continuation coverage (or before); and
- Send the plan a copy of the Social Security ruling letter within 60 days of receipt, but prior to expiration of the 18-month period of coverage.
- If these requirements are met, the entire family qualifies for an additional 11 months of COBRA continuation coverage.