Health Insurance & Medical Costs · Surprise rank #180
Lose Job-Based Health Insurance in NY? State Continuation Can Extend Some Coverage to 36 Months
New York continuation rules can provide up to 36 months of group health coverage for eligible people after certain coverage-ending events.
Who
Eligible people losing coverage under New York-regulated insured group health plans, subject to employer size and the qualifying event.
Where: New York-regulated group health coverage
What to do
Start here: Read the continuation notice immediately and compare the deadline and premium with Marketplace alternatives before the election period expires.
Eligibility: State continuation generally applies to insured group coverage. Federal COBRA and New York mini-COBRA rules differ based on employer size and qualifying event.
What you get
State continuation can preserve an insured group health plan after job loss or another qualifying event, and can extend some federal COBRA coverage to a combined 36 months.
Benefit: Continued access to the same group health coverage, generally by paying up to 102% of the group premium.
Possible value: The value is continued insurance access; the enrollee usually pays the full premium plus the allowed administrative amount.
Good to know
Important: New York's 36-month extension does not apply to self-funded employer plans or to stand-alone dental, vision or prescription-drug coverage. Election deadlines are strict.
Availability: Active
Why people miss it: People may assume federal COBRA's common 18-month period is always the maximum even when New York continuation rules can extend insured coverage.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026