Comptroller’s office to inform those receiving health benefits through COBRA that they are eligible for extended coverage

Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman will be sending out letters to over 300 individuals currently receiving health benefits through COBRA informing them that New York State has extended the length of the optional health care coverage. The law extending the COBRA period from 18 to 36 months was signed into law on July 29, 2009 by Governor David Paterson and gives employees who have lost their jobs the option to pay to continue health coverage that had been provided by their group health plan.

"In today’s difficult economy this law gives individuals the opportunity to purchase private health insurance for a longer period of time,” said Weitzman.

Any former Nassau County employee with COBRA coverage that expired after July 1, 2009 is eligible to extend their coverage to 36 months. The law applies to health, dental and optical insurance.

According to Weitzman, if a former employee’s COBRA coverage was scheduled to expire between July 1, 2009 and August 31, 2009, and they would like to continue that coverage for 36 months, they must complete a form and send it to the Nassau County Comptroller’s Office, Health Benefits Unit, with payment, for the unpaid month(s). If an individual’s coverage is set to expire after August 31, 2009, the coverage will automatically be extended to 36 months as long as the former employee continues to send in the appropriate payment.

A second measure signed into law will allow employees to continue health coverage for unmarried children through the age of 29, as long as the child lives, resides and works in New York, is not covered by another policy and is not eligible for Medicaid. The Comptroller’s Office will release information on obtaining this benefit as soon as the cost of the coverage to an employee has been determined by NYSHIP.

For more information call the Comptroller’s Health Benefits Unit (516) 571-2369.