Conference 7.286::digital

     
    It is true, one can get health insurance via the Unemployement Office.
    (I think this is a federal program - since the Bush Administration)
    
    I have no specifics but am certain my friend was insured during his
    unemployed summer of fun in the sun.
    
    It is poorly publicized, not really a secret. All you need to do is
    ask and pursue the issue. I understand the forms were not lengthy or
    unreasonable.
                                             
    TJB

    
    My sister is out of work.. The govt. pays $80 towards her health
    insurance.  You can keep your same insurance (at lower rates)
    under the COBRA plan.
    
    Jon
    

    
    
    This was money that was set aside by Gov. Dukasis.. he was good for
    one thing :-), its not Cobra its John Hancock.. my father was on this
    last summer when he was laid off.  And that is what the office told him
    about where the money came from.

>    one thing :-), its not Cobra its John Hancock.. my father was on this

  COBRA is not an insurance company. It is an acronym for something (Continu-
ation of Benefits...) and is a set of rules concerning extension of group
health insurance after one becomes unemployed.

    
    Re: .4
    
    Correct.  Actually COBRA is the acronym for a federal law which
    requires health insurance benefits to continue to be available
    under certain conditions.  For example, when I was divorced COBRA
    required that coverage for my former spouse be continued for a
    period up to 18 months after her eligibility as my spouse ended.
    COBRA does not require, however, the employer to pay for that
    coverage.  I had to pick up the entire cost of her COBRA coverage
    until she got coverage of her own.
    
    fwiw,
    Steve
    

    re: rathole
    
    If I recall, it's "Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act".
    The clause was tacked on as a rider on the federal budget... it's one
    way to get something passed in a hurry without a separate up/down vote.

     I have a question about COBRA. If I pay, say, $20 per week for my
    insurance, how much will I pay under cobra ? I have been told that we
    pay about 30% of the actual cost to Digital. Does that mean that the
    cobra cost of the insurance will be 20/0.3 = $67 per week ?

     I know, I could go and ask my PSA...

    Thanks.

    I think talking to your PSA is probably the best bet, but I can tell
    you that when my brother was laid off from another company, his cost
    for a family plan in an HMO through COBRA was $500/month!  No small
    change.
    
    BTW, this probably belongs in another note, but there has been talk in
    here about how 1 week severance per year of service is "industry
    standard."  That *may* be true.  That's what my brother got.  However,
    inclusion of medical and dental benefits for the entire length of the
    severance is *not* industry standard.  Most companies require you to
    immediately go to COBRA.
    
    
    Susan

    You could ask your PSA, but then again most of them have been TFSO'd.
    
    Good luck finding a human being to talk to who will actually have the
    time to give you a reply!
    
    -s
    

    Re .7:
    
    Here's what the United States Code has to say about how much your
    premiums are under COBRA.  Basically, you pay the actual cost.
    
    
    				-- edp
    
    
-CITE-
    42 USC Sec. 300bb-4

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 42
    CHAPTER 6A
    SUBCHAPTER XX

-HEAD-
    Sec. 300bb-4. Applicable premium

-STATUTE-
      For purposes of this subchapter -
      (1) In general
        The term 'applicable premium' means, with respect to any period
      of continuation coverage of qualified beneficiaries, the cost to
      the plan for such period of the coverage for similarly situated
      beneficiaries with respect to whom a qualifying event has not
      occurred (without regard to whether such cost is paid by the
      employer or employee).
      (2) Special rule for self-insured plans
        To the extent that a plan is a self-insured plan -
        (A) In general
          Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the applicable
        premium for any period of continuation coverage of qualified
        beneficiaries shall be equal to a reasonable estimate of the
        cost of providing coverage for such period for similarly
        situated beneficiaries which -
            (i) is determined on an actuarial basis, and
            (ii) takes into account such factors as the Secretary may
          prescribe in regulations.
        (B) Determination on basis of past cost
          If a plan administrator elects to have this subparagraph
        apply, the applicable premium for any period of continuation
        coverage of qualified beneficiaries shall be equal to -
            (i) the cost to the plan for similarly situated
          beneficiaries for the same period occurring during the
          preceding determination period under paragraph (3), adjusted
          by
            (ii) the percentage increase or decrease in the implicit
          price deflator of the gross national product (calculated by
          the Department of Commerce and published in the Survey of
          Current Business) for the 12-month period ending on the last
          day of the sixth month of such preceding determination
          period.
        (C) Subparagraph (B) not to apply where significant change
          A plan administrator may not elect to have subparagraph (B)
        apply in any case in which there is any significant difference,
        between the determination period and the preceding
        determination period, in coverage under, or in employees
        covered by, the plan.  The determination under the preceding
        sentence for any determination period shall be made at the same
        time as the determination under paragraph (3).
      (3) Determination period
        The determination of any applicable premium shall be made for a
      period of 12 months and shall be made before the beginning of
      such period.

-SOURCE-
    (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXII, Sec. 2204, as added Apr. 7,
    1986, Pub. L. 99-272, title X, Sec. 10003(a), 100 Stat. 234.)
-END-
    

    Try the PSN (People Support Network) or call John Hancock.  They can
    give you the information over the phone.
    
    PSN  1-800-544-9944
    JH   1-800-332-2060 (I think thats right)
    
    Toodles.....JP
    

    Under COBRA you pay the Group rate that is offered to Digital.  Digital
    does NOT pick up any of the cost.  Plan on about $450 for a family for
    a monthly expense for a HMO!!!  Actually the group rates are very good
    compared to a individual rate!
    
    Mike

    
     Thanks to you all. I called John Hancock. The rate is about $500 per 
    month for a family of three. This rate is almost uniform for any HMO
    that you choose.
    
     By the way, Harvard Community Health Plan HMO has a non-group
    insurance policy which is $431 per month for a family. The only thing 
    not covered is prescription drugs.
    
     Nitin

   
>     Thanks to you all. I called John Hancock. The rate is about $500 per 
>    month for a family of three. This rate is almost uniform for any HMO
>    that you choose.
    
 Is this for DMP I or II, and is it the additional cost over the cost for
current employees? DMP II is 107.??/WEEK for families now.

Also, children over 19 are not covered 	WHERTHER OR NOT THEY ARE IN 
COLLEGE.  I dropped it 3 years ago and went back to traditional coverage 
(I carry my own).

    
    
    	Does anyone have a pointer to where it discusses the gradual
    reduction of health benefits over an "X" period of years for those
    officially retiring from Digital?  Supposedly it was 100% last year
    then goes down some percentage over the next "X" years.  So, if you
    are thinking of retiring, basically the company paid portion of
    health benefits after retirement get less and less the longer you 
    wait.  Just wondered where this was described in detail???