Ohio COBRA Health Insurance coverage will last another six months after recent legislation extended the length of the federal COBRA subsidy from 9 months to 15 months.  Also, more Ohio residents will qualify for COBRA coverage since workers laid off from Sept. 1 2008 to Feb. 28 2010 will be eligible for the Ohio COBRA Health insurance coverage. With this subsidy, eligible workers only pay 35% of their total COBRA premiums to continue to receive health insurance coverage through their former employers.

COBRA is a federal law that allows employees that leave their jobs to continue and maintain their former employee’s health insurance coverage for 18 months. Normally, employees are required to pay the entire cost of the coverage, making COBRA benefits unaffordable for most Ohio workers.

Income restrictions limit coverage to Ohio individuals that make less than $145,000 and to Ohio families that make less than $290,000. Also, COBRA is offered with group health plans when employers have more than 20 employees. Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment (other than gross misconduct) or a reduction in the number of hours of employment are “qualifying events” that would allow employees to become eligible for COBRA. The United States Department Of Labor offers these COBRA FAQs.

However, it is possible that Ohio COBRA premiums (even after the subsidy) will be expensive and possibly unaffordable. If there are no existing major health conditions, an individual Ohio health insurance policy is an alternative to COBRA health insurance. Depending on age, zip code and some other factors, rates may be quite affordable. And this type of coverage can be kept indefinitely, without the worry of a major health condition occurring just before coverage expires.

We’re Ohio’s premier resource for affordable Ohio COBRA health insurance alternatives. Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Medical Mutual and UnitedHealthOne are some of the major health insurers we consider when researching your options. If you would like to instantly view your options, please click on the “Get Instant Quote” button at the top of the page. Your personal information will never be shared with any other person or company.

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