Signed by Governor Brad Henry

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows involuntarily terminated employees whose group health coverage would otherwise be ended due to the employment termination to continue their previous health coverage for 4 months with the same benefits and premiums that were in effect during their employment, provided that they are ineligible for COBRA and that they were not terminated for misconduct.

Highlights:

-Specifies that the aforementioned 4 months of extended coverage after employment termination shall only be available while premium subsidies are available pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal economic stimulus act) or its successor (Sec. 1). -Extends the duration of time that employees can remain insured under their previous policies after their insurance is terminated under a group policy providing hospital benefits, medical benefits, surgical benefits, Christian Science care benefits, or hospital or medical service or indemnity contracts from 30 days to 63 days, and also allows employees whose prepaid health plans or health maintenance organization subscriber contracts are terminated to remain insured under those contracts or plans for 63 days after termination (Sec. 1). -Requires individuals who have exhausted COBRA coverage to apply for coverage in the high risk pool within 63 days after exhausting the COBRA coverage in order to have a preexisting condition covered (Sec. 3). -This is a substitute bill sponsored by the House Committee on Economic Development and Financial Services.

Full Bill Text