UNEMPLOYED MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMMONWEALTH CARE

Given the state of the economy, we can probably expect more questions from patients who have lost their jobs and need health coverage. Partners Community Benefit Programs put together the attached fact-sheet to explain how public coverage plans work in relation to COBRA, unemployment assistance, etc.

The biggest misperception seems to be regarding the rule that an individual cannot quality for Commonwealth Care if he had access to employer coverage during the last 6 months. This rule does not apply if the individual has lost his job and no longer has access to that employer coverage. An individual who has lost his job can enroll in Commonwealth Care (if he meets income requirements), even if he had access to coverage in the last 6 months, and even if he currently has access to COBRA.

-Adapted from “ New Resource on employment status and access to pubic health coverage”, e-mail from Kim Simonian, MPH, Community Benefit Programs, Partners HealthCare, January 30, 2009.

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