Employees have the option to retain their medical benefits under COBRA, but will be forced to pay a higher premium. The USW states that its workers will not be forced back to work because they have COBRA rights – and, because of the timing, would not have to pay any premiums for an extended period.

However, based on Goodyear’s outline of its COBRA program, striking union workers will have to make Cobra premiums earlier than the USW claims, and will still be responsible for those premium payments, regardless of how long the strike lasts.

Here is how Goodyear explained its COBRA program on its strike-update Web site:

Question: When is my first COBRA premium payment due for my family and me to prevent my coverage from lapsing on Jan. 4, 2007?

Answer: Your first premium is due on Dec. 15. Your coverage will end on Jan. 3, 2007, if Goodyear does not receive your COBRA payment by Dec. 15, 2006. COBRA Payments are due on the 15th of each month for the following month. You need to pay the January premium, and your payments are due on the 15th of the preceding month for each of the following months. Your February payment, for example, is due by Jan. 15.

Question: What happens on Jan. 4 if I go to the doctor but I have not yet returned the COBRA election form and payment? Is my insurance card still good?

Answer: No. If you do not pay your premium by Dec. 15, your coverage will lapse on January 3, your insurance card is no longer valid and you will be responsible for any charges incurred. If you decide later to elect COBRA and pay your back premiums, and you have satisfied the appropriate due dates, any valid claims incurred during the election period that would otherwise be covered by the Plan will be reimbursed.

Question: I received my COBRA letter in the mail and have not decided whether or not I need medical coverage. How long do I have to make this decision?

Answer: You may elect to continue your coverage by completing the enclosed enrollment form and returning it no later than Mar. 4, 2007.

Question: If I elect to enroll in COBRA, when is the latest date that I can make my premium payment? Do I have to pay the total amount when I submit my enrollment form?

Answer: You have an additional 45 days from the day after you make your election to pay your retroactive premium payments. For example, if you decide to elect COBRA medical coverage and you sign and return the enrollment form on Feb. 1, you must pay the total premium due no later than Mar. 18, which is 45 days from the day after the date you signed the form. You may elect to send your first check with the enrollment form so that you don’t forget.

Question: How do I know how much premium to pay?

Answer: Refer to your COBRA Continuation letter for details regarding a breakdown of the rates and coverages you are eligible for. If you have any questions, call the Goodyear Benefits Solution Center at 1-800-334-9395.

Question: If I wait and decide to enroll and pay for COBRA later but within the due dates, can I choose the date to continue my coverage?

Answer: It is important to remember that you have to pay premiums back to the day you lost coverage (Jan. 3, 2007) in order to have your benefit continued. Refer to your COBRA Continuation letter for details regarding a breakdown of the rates and coverages you are eligible for. Once your premium payments are received, coverage will be reinstated back to the day after you lost coverage and any claims incurred during the election period will be considered eligible for payment subject to Plan guidelines.

Question: What if I incur medical bills and expenses in February after my coverage lapses on Jan. 3? How would my February medical bills and claims be handled if at that time I elect coverage retroactive to Jan. 3?

Answer: During the lapse period, you should be prepared for your doctor, pharmacy or hospital to demand payment directly from you at the time of service. Once your premium payments are received, coverage will be reinstated back to the day after you lost coverage. Once coverage is reinstated, the insurance carriers will be notified of your benefit continuation. At that time, you and the medical providers will need to resubmit any claims. Claims incurred during the lapse will then be considered eligible for payment subject to Plan guidelines.

Question: If I let my coverage lapse and then decide to make my premium payment, how long will it take to process the payment and have my coverage reinstated?

Answer: Your premium payment will be processed as soon as administratively feasible after it is received. Once received and processed, eligibility files are transmitted to the various insurance carriers each Thursday, and their records are updated by the following Tuesday. Reprocessing of lapsed claims could take 4 to 8 weeks depending on the number of associates who allow their coverage to lapse.

Question: What happens to my benefits if I return to work prior to Jan. 3, 2007?

Answer: If you return to active employment prior to Jan. 3, 2007, your active medical and vision coverage will continue without lapsing.