Conversion requirements

[Guest cosmo01]

I just want to make sure that I under a participant's right to convert his policy. A participant may only convert a policy into an individual policy after he separates if the policy itself permits such a conversion? Therefore, an employer is not required to offer convertible insurance products...

[Guest chloe]

There is no federal law requiring conversion. So, if the plan is a self-insured ERISA plan, there is no requirement to offer conversion. Although COBRA states that, IF the plan offers conversion, it must offered to COBRA participants at the end of COBRA. However, many states require that conversion be offered on insured plans. You'd have to check the states involved if this is an insured plan.