State COBRA expansion programs (sometimes referred to as Mini COBRA) extend coverage to employees in firms with fewer than 20 workers who are not covered by COBRA, the federal law. Coverage under these state continuation programs may differ in duration, restrictions, and eligibility from the coverage provided to workers under the federal law.

State	Length of COBRA (MONTHS)
Arkansas	4
California	36
Colorado	18
Connecticut	36
Iowa	9
Kansas	6
Kentucky	18
Louisiana	12
Maine	12
Maryland	18
Massachusetts	36
Florida	29
Georgia	3
Minnesota	36
Mississippi	12
Missouri	9
Nebraska	12
Nevada	36
New Hampshire	36
New Jersey	36
New York	36
North Carolina	18
North Dakota	36
Ohio	6
Oklahoma	6
Oregon	6
Rhode Island	18
South Carolina	6
South Dakota	36
Tennessee	15
Utah	6
Vermont	12
West Virginia	18
Wisconsin	18
Wyoming	12

 

1. Maximum Duration of Continuation Coverage: Actual duration of state continuation coverage may be less depending on the qualifying event. Rating Restrictions: Percentage of the Group Rate: Under all state continuation coverage laws, the person electing continuation coverage must pay the entire premium (employee and employer) share and, in some states, an administrative fee. The added administrative fee varies from state to state but is typically 2% of the total premium. Similar to the federal COBRA provisions, many states permit insurers to charge much higher premiums (typically 150% of the group rate) for those electing state continuation coverage because disability. These states are not reflected on the charts.
   
2. States without Continuation Coverage for Small Firms: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington. In Arizona and Virginia, insurers have the option of offering either continuation or conversion. In Washington, insurers are required to offer employers the option of having a continuation coverage provision, however, continuation coverage is not mandated in group policies.
   
3. In Idaho, except extension of benefits up to 12 months for individuals that pregnant or disabled, generally there is no continuation coverage.
   
4. Six states have continuation laws that extend, for certain individuals(generally 55 and older), continuation coverage to the time when the individual is eligible for Medicare. These states include Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, In addition, in New Mexico, group plans offer through the New Mexico Health Insurance Alliance continue coverage indefinitely. In these states, group carriers have the discretion not to continue coverage for certain coverage benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental benefits and vision benefits.
   
5. In these states, group carriers have the discretion not to continue coverage for certain coverage benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental benefits and vision benefits. In North Dakota, in the case divorce, insurers are permitted to charge 102% of the group rate.
   
6. In New Jersey, individual considered disabled, under some circumstances, may continue coverage until they are no longer considered disabled.
   
7. The New Mexico Health Insurance Alliance permits some individuals to continue to maintain Alliance coverage indefinitely. In order to be eligible an individual must have maintained Alliance group coverage for 6 months and no longer be eligible for this coverage for almost all reasons (i.e. loss of employment, loss of policy, aging off parents' policy, death ,divorce). Premiums for continuation coverage through the Alliance are about 9 percent higher than typical group premiums.
   
8. In Oklahoma, Information applies to non-HMO plans. Longer periods of extension (3-6 months) for those undergoing treatment or pregnancy at termination of coverage. HMO's required to extend coverage through pregnancy or ongoing inpatient treatment.
   
9. In South Dakota, the premium to continue coverage after 18 months increases to 150%.

Source:

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp
?ind=357&cat=7&sub=88&yr=18&typ=5&sort=586

Additional info visit: http://www.cobrahealth.com/statelawdirectory.htm