The Community Resource Center has a copy of "You Can Take it With You: Continuation of Group Insurance Coverage" that covers Massachusetts’ laws as well as COBRA. Did you know that state benefits may be more generous than federal? In the case of divorced or legally separated individuals, unless the divorce decree stipulates otherwise, the ex-spouse is eligible for health and dental coverage until remarriage. Under COBRA the length of eligibility for this situation would be 36 months. In most cases where someone has commercial insurance (i.e., neither BC/BS nor an HMO), the first 31 days of coverage after a lay off or other termination are paid under the same terms as while employed under Massachusetts’ law. There are also some special protections in the case of plant closings. Unfortunately this document has been copied multiple times and we cannot get them in bulk. Feel free to call Ellen Forman x6-5807 with specific questions or for a copy if you are willing to suffer through the poor quality.

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