Offering the appropriate continuation of coverage option when members lose eligibility for group health coverage is the employer's responsibility. Generally, these options include federal COBRA or one of the Illinois state continuation options. 

If your client needs authoritative information to help determine continuation-related obligations, help is available.

1. For COBRA, call the Federal Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) hotline toll free at (866) 444-EBSA (3272) or visit the Department of Labor Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa. 
2. For Illinois continuation options, employer resources are available through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation hot line at (312) 814-2427 or online at http://www.idfpr.com/DOI/HealthInsurance/HealthInsurance.asp.

Also, military service members called to active duty and their families have special employment and reemployment rights, including specific continuation of coverage rights, under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act of 1994 (USERRA).  Comprehensive USERRA information is available on the DOL’s Web site at http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-userra.htm.