Question about being laid off when pregnant

ilovebijou

I was laid off this week and DH and I are trying to figure out our insurance options- Cobra ($$$) vs. his ($$$). A friend of mine who had her children 20 yrs ago said that when she was laid off and pregnant the company had to continue to pay for all her healthcare(since she was pregnant when she worked there) and she didn't have to pay the Cobra premiums. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this or where I could find out more information?

 Thanks!

Jessie0706

Sorry to hear about your lay off... I think a good starting point would be to call your insurance company and explain what you just did to us. They may be able to better explain what your options are. I know there's other things than COBRA out there for insurance companies...

vfolk

Ask your HR rep to ask the insurance company.  If you were laid off you will get the subsidized rate for 9 months for COBRA.  I've never heard of the company needing to continue to cover you but can't hurt to ask

ariel06

I'm 99% sure her company was just being nice.  With the mass layoff I was involved in we had a meeting of all pregnant people to discuss how it effected short-term leave and benefits.  Cobra was the only thing offered to us. 

otc

I don't know if they had Cobra 20 years ago.  Call your HR. 

ilovebijou

Follow up- I called our insurance company and they said that it's up to my company if they want to continue coverage and not have me pay Cobra. I've talked to our HR and they said my option was Cobra so I guess Dh and I will have to decide if his insurance or Cobra is a better option for us.

Jessie0706

ilovebijou:

Follow up- I called our insurance company and they said that it's up to my company if they want to continue coverage and not have me pay Cobra. I've talked to our HR and they said my option was Cobra so I guess Dh and I will have to decide if his insurance or Cobra is a better option for us.

When I leave my job we will be going on COBRA because my benefits are better through my insurance than DH's. Good luck! I hope it all works out well for you!

karashanle

Part of the new obama stimulus plan was to have you only pay 35% of cobra premiums when you get laid off for 9 months. This happened to my husband and we only had to pay 300 or so for all of us, plus the baby once he came.  It would have been almost 800 with out it.  Good luck.