Group
Medical
Insurance
in
California
Group
medical
insurance
is
insurance
you
may
get
through
your
job
or
union,
or
as a
retiree.
It
usually
costs
less
than
individual
medical
insurance,
which
you
buy
on
your
own.
Sign
Up
for
Group
Medical
Insurance
- When you start a new job, ask how to sign up for medical insurance, when your medical insurance starts, and what your share of the cost is.
- Compare plans. Look at all the plans your employer offers to find the one that offers the most benefits you need.
- You can add new dependents to your medical plan when you marry, have a baby, or adopt a child. You may also be able to add a domestic partner. When you add someone to your medical plan, your monthly premium may go up.
- Most employers have Open Enrollment in the fall of each year. Open Enrollment is when you can change your benefit choices. For example, you can change medical plans if your employer offers more than one plan.
Waiting
Periods
and
Pre-Existing
Conditions
The
California group
medical
plan
at
your
new
job
cannot
refuse
to
cover
you
if
you
have
a
pre-existing
condition
(an
injury
or
illness
that
started
before
you
joined
the
plan).
However,
some
plans
have
a
waiting
period
before
the
pre-existing
condition
is
covered.
The
waiting
period
cannot
be
more
than
6
months.
- There is no waiting period if you have not had diagnosis or care for your injury or illness in the last 6 months.
- There is no waiting period if you had previous medical insurance for 6 months with no gaps of more than 62 days before your last insurance ended and the new insurance starts. This is called having creditable coverage.
- There is a shortened waiting period if you had medical insurance for less than 6 months with no gaps of more than 62 days before your last insurance ended and the new insurance starts.
Federal
COBRA
and
Cal-COBRA
are
laws
that
help
you
keep
your
group
medical
insurance
for
a
certain
amount
of
time
if
your
job
ends,
your
hours
are
cut,
or
you
change
jobs
and
there
is a
waiting
period
before
your
new
medical
insurance
starts.
You
will
have
to
pay
the
premiums
yourself.
But
it
may
cost
less
than
individual
medical
insurance,
which
is
insurance
that
you
buy
on
your
own.
And
the
benefits
may
be
better.
These
laws
also
help
your
spouse,
former
spouse,
or
child
keep
medical
insurance
after
your
job
ends,
or
after
divorce
or
your
death.
- Get a letter from your medical plan that says how long you were insured. This is called a Certificate of Creditable Coverage. You may need this letter when you get new group medical insurance or apply for individual medical insurance.
- Shop for new insurance. Compare the cost of COBRA to the cost of individual medical insurance.
- If you buy individual medical insurance, wait until you are approved before you end your old insurance. It can take a month or two from the time you apply until you are approved.
