Ask Our Experts
By: Source: AARP Bulletin Today Date Posted: 2004-01-16 13:55:00-05:00
The AARP Bulletin's Ask Our Experts column provides answers to important questions affecting older Americans. Read below for this month's column, or review our archive of previously published questions and answers sorted by topic.
(Note: Recent news or changes to regulations may affect the guidance offered in this previously published column.)
Submit your own question to the Ask Our Experts column via our easy-to-use online form.
Q. I understand that if I lose my job, I may be able to continue my health insurance under something called COBRA. What is that?
COBRA, which stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, is a federal law enacted in 1986 that allows certain workers who've lost their jobs to extend group health coverage for 18 months for themselves and their spouses and dependent children. In some instances, coverage can be extended to 36 months.
COBRA rights may also apply to retirees and others under certain circumstances.
COBRA coverage is valuable but it can also be costly, because under COBRA, in addition to paying your portion of the group health plan premiums, you must also shoulder whatever your employer may have paid. Still, COBRA coverage usually costs less than a comparable nongroup policy.
Experts say that exercising your COBRA rights may also keep alive your future eligibility to buy insurance outside of a group, protecting you from being refused coverage for a pre-existing condition.
Because health care coverage is so important, you are urged to examine COBRA's requirements closely.
The U.S. Department of Labor offers a booklet, "Health Benefits Under COBRA." Get it online (it's a PDF file), or call toll free (866) 275-7922.
AARP provides information on other options when you're losing your group health insurance.—Expertise provided by Geraldine Smolka
Q. I saw an item about medigap insurance in your column some time ago but didn't save it. How can I retrieve this information?
All past columns can now be found on the AARP Bulletin website, at www.aarp.org/bulletin/expertsarchive. You can search for items by date of publication or by topic. The archive also includes direct links to websites mentioned in the columns and many additional links providing related information.—Expertise provided by Robert Long
Q. I recently became a widow. I am 57 and have two children, ages 23 and 25. When do I qualify to collect my late husband's Social Security?
Your benefits as a widow can begin when you reach 60. Under certain circumstances, a widow can begin collecting earlier than 60—but none of these conditions appears to apply in your case.
For example, a widow can receive benefits at any age if she has in her care a child, or children, of the deceased worker who is under 16 or who was disabled before age 22.
These provisions apply equally to widowers.—Expertise provided by Laurel Beedon
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