What Happens To Health Insurance When You Switch Jobs? 
If you 're under a group health plan and you switch jobs , you lose the existing health insurance coverage -LRB- typically immediately or at the end of the month , varies by carrier and plan -RRB- unless you go on COBRA . Under COBRA , you 're continuing your existing health benefits , but you 're paying the entire premium plus 2 % -LRB- the employer typically shares the cost of premiums with their employees in group coverage plans - e.g. the employer pays 50 % and you pay the other 50 % -RRB- . If you do n't want to go on COBRA when your group coverage terminates , you would have a special enrollment period allowing you to secure coverage under an individual health plan - you would n't need to wait until the annual enrollment period opens up . If you had an individual health plan to start , you do n't have to do anything - your coverage will continue as normal because it 's not an employer-based health plan . I hope that helps answer your question . Please let me know if I can be of further assistance . Thanks very much . 