Group
Health
Insurance
Group
health
insurance
is
insurance
you
may
get
through
your
job
or
union,
or
as a
retiree.
It
usually
costs
less
than
Arizona individual
health
insurance,
which
you
buy
on
your
own.
Sign
Up
for
Group
Health
Insurance
- When you start a new job, ask how to sign up for health insurance, when your health insurance starts, and what your share of the cost is.
- Compare Arizona medical plans. Look at all the plans your employer offers to find the one that offers the most benefits you need.
- You can add new dependents to your health plan when you marry, have a baby, or adopt a child. You may also be able to add a domestic partner. When you add someone to your health plan, your monthly premium may go up.
- Most employers have Open Enrollment in the fall of each year. Open Enrollment is when you can change your benefit choices. For example, you can change health plans if your employer offers more than one plan.
Waiting
Periods
and
Pre-Existing
Conditions
The
group
health
plan
at
your
new
job
may
not
be
able
to
refuse
to
cover
you
if
you
have
a
pre-existing
condition
(an
injury
or
illness
that
started
before
you
joined
the
plan).
However,
some
plans
have
a
waiting
period
before
the
pre-existing
condition
is
covered.
Keep
Your
Group
Health
Insurance
Federal
COBRA
are
laws
that
help
you
keep
your
group
health
insurance
for
a
certain
amount
of
time
if
your
job
ends,
your
hours
are
cut,
or
you
change
jobs
and
there
is a
waiting
period
before
your
new
health
insurance
starts.
You
will
have
to
pay
the
premiums
yourself.
But
it
may
cost
less
than
individual
health
insurance,
which
is
insurance
that
you
buy
on
your
own.
And
the
benefits
may
be
better.
These
laws
also
help
your
spouse,
former
spouse,
or
child
keep
health
insurance
after
your
job
ends,
or
after
divorce
or
your
death.
Before
Your
Health
Insurance
Ends
- Get a letter from your health plan that says how long you were insured. This is called a Certificate of Creditable Coverage. You may need this letter when you get new group health insurance or apply for individual health insurance.
- Shop for new insurance. Compare the cost of COBRA to the cost of individual health insurance.
- If you buy individual health insurance, wait until you are approved before you end your old insurance. It can take a month or two from the time you apply for Arizona health insurance until you are approved.
