Madison, WI--Recent graduates of high school or college who've been covered under parents' group health insurance plans should plan immediately for health insurance coverage. Checking the policy is the first step, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI).

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"If you've graduated this spring and are unsure about your health insurance, check into it now," said Eileen Mallow, OCI assistant deputy commissioner. "If you don't understand your continuation rights, contact the employer's human resources department, an insurance agent or our office."

Many health insurance policies assign "dependent" status to children under the age of 19. In addition, children who are 19 or older and are full-time students often may continue to be covered as dependents under the parents' policy until they graduate or until age 24. To determine the details, check the policy.

The right to continue group health insurance coverage--or convert to a new individual policy--expires within certain timeframes under either state and federal continuation laws. Paying attention to deadlines is important.

"The financial burden caused by an illness or accident can keep people in debt for a long time," Mallow said. "Take advantage of access to group health insurance."

Federal COBRA law guarantee people who qualify the right to continue health insurance coverage after a change in employment, for example. If both state and federal law apply to an individual, whichever law is most favorable to the policyholder is applied.

The COBRA law covers workers of companies with 20 or more employees, even those with self-funded plans (which the company itself administers). It also applies to state and local government employees. COBRA can allow continuation of coverage through a group health insurance policy for periods of 18, 29 or 36 months. In most cases, the policyholder will have to pay the entire cost of the continuation premium.

Wisconsin's continuation law applies to most people with group medical or hospital coverage, including those of employers with less than 20 workers. It may offer 18 months of continuation, or conversion to an individual policy if the policyholder pays the regular rate.

If new graduates elect to take advantage of COBRA continuation, they have only a certain number of days to request continuation. Often health insurance continuation rights will maintain health care coverage until the graduate gets insurance through a job or purchase of an individual policy.