Can I receive COBRA benefits while on FMLA leave? Is alternative insurance available?

COBRA does not apply during a family leave because the Family and Medical Leave Act requires an employer to maintain coverage under the group health plan anyway during the leave.

If the leave is for maternity (or any other personal medical reasons) then it it would be inappropriate (or even impossible) to change health insurance plans since the majority of individual major medical insurance plans either exclude pregnant women & spouses from eligibility or exclude maternity expenses from the coverage. Supplemental health insurance continues to be available during a maternity to offset higher than normal medical expenses during a leave of absence but these.  

revised 3/3/09

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