Your Job Ends: What About Insurance?

By Harry Wessel
Sentinel Columnist
December 11, 2002

Question: When I left my former employer, I was told my company health insurance would cover me for one month past my termination date. I saw a doctor within that month's time, and the doctor and the insurance company kicked back my bills to me. When I called the insurance company, I was told my employer had terminated my insurance.

Is there anything I can do about this?

Answer: Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as COBRA, employees are entitled to continuation of their company health plans generally for up to 18 months past the last day of employment.

You should have been notified of your COBRA rights, says Dorothy Green, a labor and employment attorney with Ford & Harrison in Orlando. The law gives you 60 days after termination to make your decision to continue your health insurance. Once you elect to continue it, you have 45 days to make your initial premium payment.

COBRA covers companies that offer health insurance and have at least 20 employees. But even if your company had fewer than 20 workers you would be covered under Florida's so-called "mini COBRA," a 5- year-old law that protects employees of small companies not covered by the federal COBRA.

You may need to file a lawsuit under the federal Employment Retirement Income Security Act. If you worked for a small employer, contact the Florida Department of Insurance at 1-800-342-2762.

KEEP SMILING

Job seekers have more success if they are optimistic, confident and extroverted, according to a survey conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology.

"Attitude is on the top of every recruiter's list of measured traits," says Neal Lenarsky, Chairman of STI, a Los Angeles executive talent management firm.

You've scored the interview, Lenarsky points out, because you've passed the decision-maker's first test: You have the right qualifications. The only two pieces of information left unanswered are your attitude and how you fit into their corporate culture.

Job seekers who are articulate and upbeat during a competitive interview raise the expectation of employers that they will be that way with co-workers, clients and customers.

TIME TRUMPS MONEY

Employees would rather have time than money when it comes to celebrating the holidays at work, according to a new Internet survey.

The online survey's 347 participants were given five choices in terms of how a company should spend money set aside for a holiday celebration. The most popular option, chosen by 28 percent of respondents, was a company-sponsored holiday lunch in which employees received the rest of the day off as paid leave.

The other options: having no celebration and divvying up the money as cash bonuses to employees (24 percent); having no celebration and donating the money to a charitable organization (22 percent); having an off-site, after-hours cocktail party to which spouses and significant others are invited (14 percent); and restaurant gift certificates (12 percent).

The survey was conducted by Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

"In today's fast-paced society, where everyone seems to spread him/herself thin between various obligations, time has become a valuable commodity -- even more valuable than money for some," says John Challenger, who heads the outplacement firm.

But Challenger says there may be other explanations. "It is also possible that amid heavy downsizing and the fact that Sept. 11 is still fresh in our minds, the traditional holiday gala has lost much of its allure."

Harry Wessel can be reached at hwessel@orlandosentinel.com or 407- 420-5506