BurtonBaby

Suz

Im in the same state as you here is what I found on EDDs Website. Hope these links help as well as the 800 number. Someone there should be able to help you out But for sure, if your Benifits were terminated, they are required by Law to offer you Cobra so you can keep your benifits active. If they did not offer you that, you might have something to fight for. Cobra is where you are able to continue paying for your Benifits without loss of coverage.

Can my employer terminate me while I am on disability?

• The Employment Development Department has no jurisdiction over issues involving wages, hours of work, or conditions of employment.
  
  You may want to contact the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), who has responsibility over the above employment issues. To find your local DIR office, visit http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/dlse.html.
  
  For information about employment and disability issues, including termination during a disability, contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing at 1-(800) 884-1684, or visit its Web site at http://www.dfeh.ca.gov.

My health benefits were discontinued while I was on disability. What can I do?

• The Employment Development Department has no jurisdiction over issues involving the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). This program, administered by the United States Department of Labor (DOL), provides temporary continuation of health benefits at group rates for certain former employees. For information you may contact DOL at 1-866-275-7922, TTY 1-877-889-5627. In addition, you may wish to read or download the pamphlet about the COBRA program at Web site address: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/cobra99.pdf (You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print the pamphlet.) You can find the free Adobe Acrobat Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

BurtonBaby

Thanks! I was told that they are required to offer me cobra, but they didn't even do that. What a lady at Kaiser told me, was for now while I'm dealing with them, to apply for MediCal since the amount of my disability is significantly lower than my salary. After I talk to my HR tomorrow morning, I think I am going to do that, because at least while we get this worked out, I don't want to accrue a bunch of medical bills, and have to pay them out of pocket. Its not cheap, and especially because I'm on expensive meds, I dont want to end up with a huge bill that no one wants to pay. I'm a lot calmer now, but my parents also suggested talking to an attorney, because in our employee handbook from Wells, it says that while on a medical leave, you have 24 months of employment security. I've been kinda getting the run around from everyone so far, and just feel kinda betrayed by a company that I have been loyal to. =(

Thanks for the links!!

Suz

I hope it all works out.

As for Kaiser, I have them as well. I also do the Benifits at work. When you talk to Wels Fargo, Bring up the cobra. I know kaiser will allow for back billing if they are aware of the mistake. This could get you back on the Plan. You just might have to pay a few months Premium but It might get you back on track. Good Luck Tomorrow.