• Make sure that you understand the continuation laws for COBRA health insurance benefits so that you and your family are not left without health insurance.cost of healthcare image by Cindy Haggerty from Fotolia.com
  
  When you lose your job in Illinois, you will also lose your employer-provided health insurance in most cases. When this happens, you could be faced with some serious medical bills. Fortunately, you can continue coverage under COBRA when you leave. COBRA is a program that allows you to temporarily continue coverage under your employer's group health insurance plan. But, you must make sure you understand the laws for continuation of benefits.
  
  

For Employees

• To qualify for continuation of coverage, you must have lost your job voluntarily or involuntarily for any reason except gross misconduct, or you must have had a reduction in your hours. The reduction in hours needs to be the reason you lost your health insurance. These are called "qualifying events."
  
  Once you lose your employer group health insurance, you must be notified by your employer that you are eligible for COBRA insurance. Once you sign up for the insurance, your insurance will be retroactive back to the qualifying event for COBRA insurance. You must also pay all premiums from the date of your qualifying event.
  
  COBRA insurance generally offers the same coverage that you had when you were working under the group health insurance plan, including optional insurances, like dental insurance. The only exception is life insurance.
  
  

For Spouses

• You qualify for COBRA if you lost your insurance because your spouse lost his insurance for a qualifying event, your spouse is eligible for Medicare, you become divorced or legally separated, or your spouse dies.
  
  

For Children

• You become qualified for COBRA if you lose your insurance coverage because your parent loses his coverage for a qualifying event, or you lose your status as a dependent child under the health insurance plan.