Showing posts with label Insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Insurance. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

High Deductible condition insurance Can Save You Lots of Money

Have you heard about the new High Deductible Health assurance Plans? These new plans can offer you major healing coverage at very low prices when compared to other types of health insurance. Let's take a look at what this type of plan is all about.

High Deductible Individual and family Health Insurance Plans

Health

Hdhps or High Deductible Health Plans are growing rapidly as Americans look for ways to save money on health insurance. If you're looking for low cost health insurance, and want coverage for serious injury or illness, a high deductible health plan may be just what you need.

A high deductible health plan is designed to protect you and your family from high healing costs and encourage prophylactic health care. If you are relatively healthy, this plan can save you a lot of money. This is how it works:

1. You pick from a option of high deductible amounts fluctuating from 0 all the way up to ,000 depending on which assurance company you are working with.

2. You agree to a health assurance plan in which you are responsible for healing costs up to the deductible number you have chosen.

3. After you have reached your deductible amount, the assurance company agrees to cover up to 100% of your healing costs, up to the policy limits.

Choosing a high deductible health plan can cut your monthly payments dramatically. As much as 50% in some cases. The downside of high deductible health insurance, is that you assume some of the risk for healing costs. For instance, if you were to pick a 00 deductible, then you would be responsible to pay that number before the health assurance begins to pay. Many of these plans offer 100% coverage once the deductible has been met, which means 00 is the most you would have to pay in case of a serious healing issue.

High Deductible Health assurance Quotes

Because approximately all major assurance clubs have made their healing plans ready online, you can go shopping for health assurance any time, night or day, and find high deductible private and family health assurance quotes in a matter of minutes.

High Deductible condition insurance Can Save You Lots of Money

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Florida State Health Insurance

Florida state health insurance is the best solution for people who are denied sufficient insurance coverage due to their medial conditions. This is an affordable health insurance plan initiated by the Florida Legislature. The flexibility of state health insurance is far superior to the normal choices like individual health insurances and group health insurances. Most programs in Florida state health insurance provide coverage at affordable rates that can well fit the budgets of all qualifying Floridian families.




health master

For people who have low income, Florida state health insurance has the Medicaid program that they could possible qualify for. Your local Division of Family Services office will provide the necessary information and the prescribed application form. Interesting thing here is the number of people who would actually qualify for this service but most people think they would not. The program requires filling out an application and providing some documentation about your finances. The policy issued by this program covers medical expenses of the entire family, including dental work, eye care, doctor visits, emergency care, and prescription drugs.


Health


For people with children who do not get coverage through their employment, Florida state health insurance has programs to insure the health of children. One of the programs is the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation (FHKC), which provides private sector health care coverage to uninsured children in 24 counties using school districts as large risk pools. Child plans cover a full range of services from regular check-ups, preventive care, immunization, lab tests, to hospital visits and other related expenses. Besides, the State of Florida extends Medicaid coverage to children aged between 15 and 19 with family incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level (""Waxman Children"").


Florida state health insurance plan is also open to "federally eligible individuals" as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 1996 (HIPPA). The act protects health insurance coverage for you and your family when you change or lose your job.

Florida state health insurance policies have been designed to give relief to families who do not qualify for highly rated health insurance programs nor have the ability to pay the expensive installments of private insurance.


Florida State Health Insurance


Health

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Private Health Insurance Coverage

Private health insurance is simply insurance coverage provided by insurance policy providers not run by the government. More specifically, it refers to the policy provider as a corporation that does not receive subsidy from the government for its activities. A private insurance company is just like any other business, in this respect. It gives more access to private hospitals which may be better than the state-run. It also gives the policy holder more choices in doctors. This article will give you an overview of the kind of coverage a private health insurance offers.




health insurance

The premium


Health


The premium is the amount you have to pay every month for the policy provider to keep your account active. This amount entitles you to the benefits of your policy. These can vary in size, depending on the results of your screening, the size of your initial payment to the insurance company, and other factors.


The deductible

The deductible is the initial amount you are required to pay in case of hospitalization before your policy coverage sets in. Occasionally, this is designated as a dollar amount, but can be designated by a particular number of days in the hospital as well. Usually, this kind of policy requires that you be confined in a particular hospital. If your policy has a ,000 deductible, that means you must pay ,000 in medical expenses before the coverage takes effect.

The relationship of the deductible to the premium is simple: the lower the premium, the higher the deductible, and vice-versa. For example, it is entirely possible for a policy to provide you two differing policies: one that may have a premium with a ,000 deductible, and another policy with a premium and a 0 deductible. At this point, you must decide for yourself which policy will be more advantageous for you.


Private Health Insurance Coverage


Health

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Where Can I Get Help With My Health Insurance?

Coming up is some great help on health insurance for people wanting to apply for a policy without any knowledge of coverage options. However, before providing details about coverage, let's discuss why insurance is critical.




health slimming coffee

The cost for any medical aid are going up continuously and due to these rising costs it has become a necessary need to have health insurance plans. The situations arise at times when when unplanned health expenses are to be borne beyond the budget, and at such times it is not possible for a person to bear all expense on their own. Getting the right health plan is essential.


Health


When a client seeks help with their health insurance, agents discuss four different types of policies with them. Individuals need to pay deduction to health coverage companies for medical plans to obtain benefits Deductibles are simply a fraction of the amount that individuals must pay for when enrolling in a plan. Health insurers pay nearly 80% of medical bills after insurers pay the initial 20% of the total billed amount.


Customers can choose any physician to provide treatment and then make payment directly to that physician. But, they have to get a bill and provide it to the insurer, who then will make a reimbursement of 80% of that amount to the policyholder. Health insurance plans of this type are considered more traditional.

HMO Plan: A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a kind of policy which pertains primarily to long term care of the insured party. A major medical plan is more cost prohibitive than the plan described. When choosing a doctor, it is smart to chose from a list that is provided by your insurance company. The physicians give them medical services to assist them. If required, they may also connect with distant specialists and other hospitals in order to ensure the best care is given.

Because of this, maximum people in US opt for this type of health plan.

PPO health plan:PPO (PPO) It is very similar to an HMO plan. Health insurance companies provide referrals only to in-network providers. Insured patients self-refer to out-of-network providers. Here, In or out of network Doctors are for the customer to choose as they see fit.

But, if individuals opt for physicians out-of-network, they will pay big fees compared to the affordable rates of the in-network physicians. The policy of the health companies is to pay 80% 0f the bill amount to insured people whether it is in- network or out-network.


Where Can I Get Help With My Health Insurance?


Health

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

How Life Changing Events Affect Health Insurance Premiums

We all experience a variety of changes to our personal circumstances throughout our lifetimes. And, many of these life changes can in fact affect our health insurance coverage. For example, marriage, divorce, job change and having a family are among the most significant life events that can impact your health insurance premiums. It is important to understand how certain life events will impact your health insurance premiums.




health food stores

Marriage


Health


If you or your new spouse currently has group health insurance, by law once you are married, the employer must offer you the option of enrolling in the plan. Now the employer is not required to cover the cost of the spouse's health insurance, the plan must be offered. This is often a great advantage as many group plans offer protection against pre-existing conditions and may even be less expensive than individual coverage. If both spouses have access to health insurance, be sure to compare plans so that you can select the plan that offers the most coverage at the most affordable rates.


Divorce

Most group plans are required to continue to offer coverage for a spouse in the event of a divorce as long as the primary employee remains eligible for coverage. However, not all plans offer this continuation or a prior spouse may not want to rely on this prior coverage for themselves long term. In this instance, searching for individual health insurance may be the best option.

Children

HIPAA offers special protection to families who grow through the birth of a new child or through an adoption, allowing the new dependents to be enrolled in group coverage if it is currently offered or being taken advantage of by one of the parents. Most health insurance plans require that you add the new child to the policy within 30 days of their birth or adoption.

Job Change

If you are let go from your current employer which was offering you group coverage, you are protected by law. HIPAA offers protection for 12-18 months if you have pre-existing conditions and are having trouble securing health insurance once you leave an employer. And, you also have the option through COBRA to continue paying for your coverage after you have severed employment. While the premiums are typically much more expensive than what you were paying for your group coverage, extending the coverage will ensure that you are covered and that you do not have any gaps as you search for new employment.

Retirement

As you prepare for your retirement with excitement, you may not have addressed an important concern; health insurance. Not all employers provide continuing coverage for their employees into retirement. As you prepare for this important event, be sure to speak with your benefits department about your available options and their associated costs.

We all experience life changing events throughout our lifetimes. And with something as important as our health, it is crucial that we understand how these events will impact our health insurance needs.


How Life Changing Events Affect Health Insurance Premiums


Health

Friday, July 1, 2011

Home Health Care Insurance

There are various insurance policies that help pay for or totally cover the costs of home health care. Consumers are reminded to be very cautious when shopping, comparing and buying home health care insurance policies because coverage is often limited. Considering the limitations and loopholes that home health care insurance has, they may be more expensive than other insurance policies. Home health care may only be accounted for by comprehensive insurance policies with pay benefits for nursing homes, assisted living communities, and adult day care.




healthrider

Types of Home Health Care Insurance


Health


The different types of home health care insurance depend on each policy's extent of coverage when paying for home health care services. Private insurance usually only pays for part of the home health care costs which include personal and hospice care. Managed care insurance plans may offer some help with home health care costs if the home health care provider is Medicare-certified, these plans also require hefty premiums.


There are also existing home care policies which actually pays for the excess amounts that your original insurance policy does not cover. These supplemental insurance policies cover additional payments on home medical equipment as well. Long-term care insurance cover most medical and nursing services including licensed home health care costs. They may even include personal care as well as services incurred for the upkeep and maintenance of the policyholder's home. Long term care insurance is paid for in monthly installments based on the individual's age and health conditions. Many times, the benefits may only be reaped after a pre-defined waiting period, or when the insurance company decides the financial assistance is actually necessary.

Originally, long term care insurance policies were intended to pay for a lengthy stay in a nursing home, yet because of the public demand and preference for home health care, a lot of long term care insurance policies now cover in-home services which may vary greatly according to plans. Considerations regarding pre-existing health conditions and prior hospitalizations usually limit the coverage of these insurance policies.


Home Health Care Insurance


Health

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Health Insurance: How to Apply

If you're wondering how to apply for health insurance, be aware that application is the second step of the process -- after you've researched different policies and compared prices and benefits. Whether you apply online or off will depend on your comfort level with the computer, and also whether you're applying via a group plan.




health

Before you sit down to fill out an application, you should gather information you will likely need when filling out an application. The names and addresses of doctors for yourself and your family members, the dates of the most recent visits, and information about your most recent insurance policy,


Health


Through Your Employer


If you're enrolling in a health insurance plan through your employer, you probably won't need a medical examination, but you may have to wait for the company's next enrollment period before you can apply. However, if you're a new hire, you likely can apply immediately. The application process for enrolling in a group plan is quite simple, because most plans will enroll everybody, regardless of pre-existing conditions and current state of health.

Just fill out an enrollment form, which includes personal information like: name, address, social security number, designation of the primary insured and all dependents (including the names, ages, dates of birth and social security numbers for all dependents), employment information including date of hire, and the type of health insurance coverage you select. You'll probably have to provide information about your prior health insurance coverage, including the insurance company name and policy number.

The completed application goes back to the benefits coordinator, who will process your form, and you're finished.

On Your Own

If you're not applying for group coverage, the steps are similar, except you'll be handling all the paper work yourself. Some insurance companies will send an insurance agent to discuss the application process with you. In these cases, the agent will often work with you to gather the necessary documentation, coordinate an in-home medical examination, and collect your pre-payment check.

The whole process is so simple that some people decide to apply for health insurance online. To do so, just visit the health insurance company's web site where you'll find an online application form. You'll have to provide the same type of personal and employment information as above, and you'll just enter it onto an online application form. When you're finished, click the submit button and the system takes over.

Applying for health insurance online really is painless, reliable and fast. However, if you are not comfortable providing that amount of personal information over the internet, it's probably a good idea to apply for health insurance offline.

Either way, don't wait until you need it. Because then it might be too late.


Health Insurance: How to Apply


Health

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Health Insurance; COBRA; OBRA; HIPAA; Medicare; Definitions, Relationships

Health Insurance; COBRA; OBRA; HIPAA; Medicare. If asked, could you state that you knew that all 5 of these topics had the same thing in common: medical insurance coverage for you and, perhaps, your family? Would you know the qualifications for each? Well, in this article, we will discuss them. For a timeline that depicts, graphically, the time relationship between them, please see the timeline in http://www.disabilitykey.com.




health

HEALTH INSURANCE Coverage from Work


Health


If we are lucky, we, and/or our spouse, work for a company that provides, as a benefit, health insurance coverage for us and our family. If so, we are very lucky. Even if that is true, there are some key things that you might want to look at to see if you have ENOUGH coverage.


1) From your Human Resources Department (or wherever else you would go to get information about your health insurance) get what is called a "Summary Plan Description" (SPD). This document should be kept where you can always find it, as it contains all the information you will need about what your insurance covers and what it doesn't.

2) Look up "Coverage" and "non-coverage" in your SPD.

These will tell you what your plan covers and doesn't cover. You need to see if, perhaps, you or one of the covered members of your family has a condition or circumstance that might not be covered, where you need additional coverage. For example, let's say that your family has a history of cancer; perhaps your plan restricts the number of hospitalization days for care; or, restricts the days per condition. In this case, (like my children) you might want to get additional "cancer insurance" (I think that AFLAC might provide this type of coverage).

It would be a good idea to contact a Health Insurance benefit Broker and ask him/her to read your SPD and see if you have any gaps in coverage. They then can help you supplement coverage BEFORE YOU NEED IT!

NO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

You might be one of the growing members of our society that, through one circumstance or another, does NOT have health insurance coverage for your family. In this case, I strongly encourage you to contact a Health Insurance Broker and get immediate coverage of what is called "catestrophic" (not sure if I spelled this correctly) coverage. In this type of coverage, you will generally have large deductibles, but will have coverage if, say, one of you has to go into the hospital.

CONTACTING A BENEFITS INSURANCE BROKER

Whenever you call or email a Health Insurance Broker, it is very important to prepare ahead of time. WHAT, specifically are you looking for; how much can you afford to pay every month; what circumstances do you want to make sure that your family is covered for. In this way, you can make sure to focus on your critical needs.

COBRA

COBRA is an acronym ( how can I spell acronym correctly, yet not be sure that I spelled catestrophic correctly?) that stands for: Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Basically, it is a federal law that allows you to pay for your Company-paid health insurance, as an active member, if you no longer work for that company for, generally 18 additional months.

1) COBRA is "triggered" (that is, you, or a covered member of your family, become eligible for COBRA) by events such as the following: resignation from the company; termination (FOR ANY REASON) from the company; divorce of a spouse; a covered chile's birthday makes them ineligible for coverage. These are the main "triggering" events for COBRA.

2) Now, when eligible for COBRA, you will be asked to pay for 100% to 105% of the company's employee/employee and family coverage amount. You should get a letter from your company explaining what that amount will be. BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO TAKE COBRA, there are some important things for you to consider.

What will be your cost, and what will be the coverage for that cost?

Sometimes the cost is too much for the coverage. In these cases, you might want to select HIPAA coverage, instead (see HIPAA below).

Or, you might just want to get catestrophic coverage as was mentioned earlier, and wait for full coverage under your next job.

Part of this decision should be whether or not you or a member of your family has what is called a "pre-exisitng coverage" condition.

Here again, before automatically taking COBRA, it would be wise to contact a Benefits Insurance Broker and give him/her all of your options, and get their input. I have worked extensively with a Benefits Insurance Broker, and he is absolutely fantastic!

OBRA

What, you ask, is OBRA? I've never heard of it, you say, and no one I know has heard of it either! Well, that's because, 99% of Human Resource or Benefit folks that I know have never heard of it! OBRA is a federal law that was passed that extends COBRA for an additional 11 months FOR DISABILITY PURPOSES ONLY!! Why, you ask, is this important? Thanks for asking, let's see if I can explain.

If you are as nieve (did I spell this wrong too? sorry!) as I was when I first started looking to bridge my health insurance from working to Medicare, I assumed that when I got through all of the hoops to qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disabililty Insurance) I'd IMMEDIATELY be eligible for Medicare, RIGHT??? WRONG!!!!

When you FINALLY qualify for SSDI, you have to wait for 5 months before you get your first check. AND, the rules state that, you are eligible for Medicare 2 years (24 months) FROM THE DATE OF YOUR FIRST SSDI PAYMENT. Well, if you add 24 + 5 you get, 29 months between qualifying for SSDI, and Medicare coverage.

OK, I said earlier that COBRA is for 18 months of coverage. Well guess what 18 months of COBRA + 11 months of OBRA equal - 29 months!

BUT, there are two catches to OBRA; first of all, you have a small window of 30 - 60 days to apply ( this window opens the date of your SSDI approval); and, it can cost up to 150% of your plan coverage amount. BUT, if you have a "previously existing condition" this might be the best way for you to proceed.

Again, it is important to contact a Health Insurance Broker to help you with the risk/cost ratio of all of these situations.

It is also improtant to know all of these deadlines as you plan to ensure that you and your family have important health insurance coverage.

HIPAA

HIPAA is a federal law that is called, briefly, the "portability" law for health insurance. What that means is that when you leave a group (read company-paid plan), the carrier that provided that plan, must offer to you, another plan, different from COBRA, when you leave the group coverage. Generally this will be what is called a "bare bones" plan. Again, the best thing for you to do is to call/email a Health Insurance/Benefits Broker with all of your information: SPD, COBRA info, HIPAA info, needs, cost limits, and let him/her help you find the optimum plan coverage for you.

MEDICARE

OK, now, finally, we've reached Medicare! BUT (you really didn't think it would be that easy, did you?) if you have qualified for Medicare because of disability, there are RESTRICTIONS (of COURSE there are!).

First of all, if you are qualifying for Medicare because of disability, you are probably under the age of 65 - normal retirement age.

Medicare coverage does NOT cover prescription drugs, which, those of us with disabilities probably need, and which cost lots.

But, Congress prescribed that states (all but 11) offer what is called "Medicare supplement" plans, some of which do offer prescription coverages.

BUT, these plans ARE NOT REQUIRED TO, and do not, offer these medicare supplement plans that offer prescription coverages to folks who qualify under age 65! So, if you are qualifying because of disability, your medical insurance plan doesn't cover one of your primary cost expenditures!

Here again is where you need to contact a health insurance/benefit broker. Again, he/she can work with you, and your specific circumstances, to get you the coverage you need.

Hope that this information was helpful to you. If you have any questions, please feel to ask them by commenting on this blog, and I'll be happy to get you an answer.


Health Insurance; COBRA; OBRA; HIPAA; Medicare; Definitions, Relationships


Health

Monday, June 27, 2011

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance - How To Find An Affordable Solution

Are you in need of health insurance coverage? Are you in need of health dental vision insurance for yourself alone or do you need a plan for your entire family? The reason I'm asking this is because there are affordable insurance plans available to you that you may not be aware of. Most of the time you'll just need to do an in depth search. You may also want to consider cutting your coverage back in order to make your policy more affordable. What this means is to reduce the amount of coverage on individual types of protection down to state minimum. You could reduce your ambulance coverage from ,000 down to ,000.




healthrider

Another thing that you should consider is buying a discount dental plan instead of a traditional for your health dental vision insurance. Discount dental plans are not health insurance plans. They offer generous discounts on routine dental care for visiting dentists within their network. These dentists are no different than any other professional that you may have seen in the past. These dentists have agreed to accept less for their work in order to be paid in full for their services at the time of their appointment. It really is a winning scenario for both the dentist and the patient.


Health


There are discount plan options that may also include big discounts on vision, pharmacy, chiropractic services and more. You can use your discount card at major pharmacies and other major professionals.


Discount health plans are similar to discount dental where you visit a select doctor and receive a discount for paying cash in full. The main drawback with this type of plan for some people is that you must have decent credit because most companies will run a credit check on you. Discount dental, vision, etc does NOT require a credit check.

If you're in need of health dental vision insurance protection you should start off by getting a very affordable discount dental plan. This will take care of many of your immediate needs and save you a lot of money over time. After doing this then you can find an affordable health plan.


Health, Dental and Vision Insurance - How To Find An Affordable Solution


Health

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Will I Be Covered by My Spouse's Health Insurance After Final Judgment of Divorce?

Rhode Island Has enacted the Rhode Island Health Insurance Continuation act. This act allows a person to remain on their ex-husband or ex-wives health Insurance after Final Judgment of Divorce.




healthrider

Unfortunately, this act has been watered down by recent case law out of the Federal Court District of Rhode Island. The case of Duclos v. General Dynamics Corp., 12 E.B.C. (BNA) 2648 (D.R.I. 1990) stands for the proposition that The Rhode Island health Insurance Continuation act is Preempted by ERISA. ERISA is a Federal Statute. Under Common Law, if a federal statute and state statute relate to similar topics, Federal Law may preempt state law. The Federal Preemption Doctrine is "a doctrine in law that allows a federal law to take precedence over or to displace a state law in certain matters of national importance (as interstate commerce)" Dictionary.com


Health


Duclos v. General Dynamics Corp., 12 E.B.C. (BNA) 2648 (D.R.I. 1990) ruled that the "Rhode Island statute requiring certain divorced spouses to be granted continuation health coverage without additional premiums was preempted by ERISA..." Quoted from Charles Shulman, Esq. "EBEC (Employee Benefits / Executive Compensation) Law Update"


Despite the Duclos ruling, many Rhode Island Employers allow an ex spouse to remain on health insurance coverage after Final Judgment of Divorce. Many employers are prohibiting ex spouses from coverage after final Judgment of Divorce relying on the Duclos case. My Understanding is that Blue Cross Blueshield of Rhode Island allows an ex spouse to remain on health insurance after Final Judgment of Divorce.

During the pendency of the divorce, the parties should determine the employers policy and procedures related to continuation of coverage after Final Judgment of Divorce. If possible, they should seek the company policy in writing from the Companies benefits administrator. The Obligations of Rhode Island based companies to comply with the Rhode Island Health Insurance Continuation Act is beyond the scope of this Article.

If a spouse will be remaining on his or her ex spouse's insurance then the following language should and must be put on the record at the Rhode Island Nominal Divorce Hearing and be memorialized into the Decision Pending Entry of Final Judgment as well as the Final Judgment of Divorce:

"Plaintiff shall provide Defendant with Health Insurance and Dental Insurance pursuant to the Rhode Island Health Insurance Continuation Act."

This language should be put on the record and memorialized into the Decision Pending and Final Judgment of Divorce even if the employer will be removing the spouse after Final Judgment of Divorce!

The above described language incorporated into the Final Judgment of Divorce is usually interpreted by Judges of The Rhode Island Family Court as meaning the following:

1) If there is an additional expense over and above the cost of a single plan for the ex spouse to remain covered by the health insurance plan then the ex spouse must pay that additional amount or he / she may be removed from the Health Insurance policy.

2) If the person with Health Insurance loses their job, or goes to another employer then the ex spouse will probably lose health Insurance coverage.

3) If either party (husband or wife) remarries than the ex spouse may lose Health Insurance coverage.

It is usually a good idea to specifically put on the record at the nominal divorce hearing, that the ex spouse is required to pay any additional premium over and above the cost of a Single Plan or they will be removed from the insurance. These issues can get confusing if the cost for a family plan includes the children and there is no additional expense for the spouse. Please consult with a Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer about these issues.

The Rhode Island Health Insurance Continuation Act R.I.G.L § 27-20.4-1 states:

"In the event of a final judgment of divorce, whether absolute or otherwise, where one party to the divorce was at the time of the entry of the judgment for divorce a member of a health plan providing family coverage * * * the person who was the spouse of the party prior to the entry of judgment for divorce may remain eligible for continuing benefits under the plan and health maintenance organization without additional premium or examination if the order is included in the judgment when entered. The eligibility shall continue as long as the original member is a participant in the plan or health maintenance organization and until either one of the following shall take place: (1) the remarriage of either party to the divorce, or (2) until a time as provided by the judgment for divorce. If the person [eligible for continuing health care benefits] * * *becomes eligible to participate in a comparable plan or health maintenance organization through his or her own employment, the continuation of the original plan coverage shall cease." Section

27-20.4-1(a). (Emphasis added.)

The Rhode Island Supreme Court interpreted the Rhode Island Health Insurance continuation act in L'Heureux v. L'Heureux: "The clear and unambiguous language of § 27-20.4-1 requires that health insurance benefits, when provided for in a final decree of divorce, continue at no cost to the former spouse of the party participating in the plan as long as the plan participant is still a member of the plan and until (1) either party remarries, or (2) a time provided by the judgment of divorce. Furthermore, the continuation of the original plan coverage shall cease when the former spouse becomes eligible to participate in a comparable health plan through his or her own employment."

What are some of the health insurance options available to ex spouses after Final Judgment of Divorce in Rhode Island?

COBRA Heath Insurance may be a worthwhile option for Ex Spouses after Final judgment of Divorce."Under COBRA, employers must offer the option of continued health insurance coverage at group rates to qualified employees and their families who are faced with loss of coverage due to certain events." CRS Report for Congress Health Insurance Continuation Coverage march 2005 "... When the qualifying event, however, is a covered employee's divorce or legal separation, COBRA coverage lasts for thirty-six months."

"COBRA provides that employers who provide their employees with medical coverage must provide continuation coverage to employees and their families who would otherwise lose coverage under the employer's plan as a result of a qualifying event. Qualifying events include: (a) a covered employee's divorce or legal separation....Once a qualifying event occurs, the covered employee, his or her spouse, or dependents seeking COBRA coverage must elect such coverage within 60 days of the occurrence of the qualifying event and must pay the required premiums." Marsha Zolla, Healthcare and family Law


Will I Be Covered by My Spouse's Health Insurance After Final Judgment of Divorce?


Health