California Attorney Lawyers

As usual, were the readers by e-mail a quantity of good questions and comments about some recent columns. Today I will meet on freezing your credit report year-end car donations and buying foreign bonds.

But first it’s a good question for the continuation of health care by Mr. Steve, wrote: “I recently heard that we have the possibility to choose one to three years instead of a COBRA Cobra 18 months. Is this true? ”

Yes, for many Californians, it is true.

COBRA, which represents the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the federal law, with the number of workers (and their families) of their group health insurance if they work, usually for a maximum of 18 months. In some cases, health, reports can be sued for more than 18 months, but never more than 36 months in total.

The individual pays a general rule, the whole is intended to cover costs (including the employer), plus an administration fee. The federal law applies only to employers of 20 or more employees.

A law, called Cal-COBRA, requires health insurers of health care and organizations in California for the maintenance of coverage to employees, let small businesses (two to 19 people). Benefits under Cal-COBRA are essentially the same as under the Confederation Cobra.A new law gives most employees in California - regardless of company size - the right to continuation of health insurance for 18 months, after the wear of their first 18 months of COBRA or Cal-COBRA coverage.

This new law applies to people, began receiving COBRA coverage on or after January 1, 2003.Linda Bergthold, senior consultant at Watson Wyatt World Wide, said that the law does not cover vision or dental insurance only Medical. Furthermore, does not apply to businesses, which ensures itself. Finally, the staff reports under this new law, to pay the full amount of the premium, but it can not be more than 110 percent of what active employees pay.

Freezing credit reports: In response to my columns, one of the first copies of the availability of your credit report (November 30 and December 2), Art B. asks: “How can I find information on the affixing of a freeze on my records, and how it is a good time? ”

If you live in California, you can freeze an investment on your credit report to the nation three major intelligence agencies. A freeze is to prevent potential creditors, employers and insurance companies access to the report. It will not prevent you, your existing debts to creditors or collectors.If you are a victim of identity theft and have been police files a report, you can freeze your report for free. Nonvictims must pay $ 10 for a freeze of each office, or $ 30 in total.

To order a freeze, you must write to each of the three intelligence agencies - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union - separated. The freeze will be in force until you remove him. If during the application for a job, a loan or insurance, you can lift the freeze for a specified period (for a cost of $ 10 per bureau) or for a specific undertaking ($ 12 per office).

Freeze a rejection “can help prevent identity theft, but when you log on the market for a loan, it may be unpleasant,” said Joanne McNabb, chief of the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Privacy Protection.