Employer Health Insurance Continuation in Iowa

Iowa recognizes both the federal COBRA law and its own state-level continuation coverage option for small employers, often referred to as Mini-COBRA. The federal COBRA law applies to employers with 20 or more employees and requires them to offer continued group health coverage to eligible employees and their dependents following a qualifying event such as termination of employment or reduction in work hours.

Iowa’s Mini-COBRA law provides a similar continuation of coverage for individuals who are not eligible for federal COBRA, typically because their former employer had between 2 and 19 employees. The coverage mirrors the group plan but is paid entirely by the individual and is available for a limited time.

Iowa's Continuation of Group Health Insurance Coverage Law

Iowa's Mini-COBRA law provides continuation of group health insurance coverage for employees of small businesses (2 to 19 employees) who experience a qualifying event, such as termination of employment or reduction in work hours. To be eligible, the employee must have been continuously insured under the group policy for the three months immediately preceding the termination.

Eligible individuals must request continuation in writing within 10 days following the later of the date of termination or the date they receive notice of their continuation rights. The election of continuation coverage, along with the first premium payment, must be submitted within 31 days after the group insurance would otherwise terminate.

Coverage under Iowa's Mini-COBRA can continue for up to nine months, unless the individual becomes eligible for Medicare or other group health coverage, fails to make timely premium payments, or other specified termination conditions occur.

Alternative Low Cost Medical Plans in Iowa

Continuing an employer plan in Iowa with Mini-COBRA is around $624/mo, per individual. If COBRA is unavailable or is outside of your budget, you do have affordable other options for health coverage. See below.

The cost of health insurance is determined by your age and state of residency.