Benefits &Financial
Employee Insurance Benefits
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Within one or two weeks following injury, the insured should contact his or her employer to:
- Obtain a copy of his/her company insurance policy manual. It is helpful to have the actual policy in hand rather than rely on spoken information regarding the benefits for which the person is eligible. Written information provides the family a stronger base from which to advocate for benefits, if necessary.
- Request the name and phone number of a company contact person who manages health insurance benefits
- Find out the period of time the individual will continue to receive his or her pay
- Ask about any accumulated sick leave or vacation time the person is entitled to
- Determine the impact of the injury on long term benefits (e.g. health and life insurance, disability, retirement, union benefits, use of company vehicle and any perks.)
- Ask how long the person will be eligible for health insurance coverage through the company?
- Ask if the insurance premium for health and/or disability insurance will be continued to be paid by the company or must this cost be assumed by the family to maintain coverage.
- Inquire about COBRA benefits. Under federal law (the Consolidated Amnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, COBRA) a person with a disability is eligible for benefits through COBRA for up to twenty-nine months following injury once company health benefits expire. However, the employer may require the family to pay the premium in full on a regular basis without employer contribution.
Lu Rae Ahrendt is a certified rehabilitation nurse and certified case manager. She provides catastrophic case management services and life care plans for children and adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses and has extensive experience in the development, coordination and implementation of plans of care for individuals with brain injuries. Ms. Ahrendt presents to numerous professional and disability support organizations. She is a current board member and former board chairperson for the Brain Injury Resource Foundation.