It sounds like it's saying that Airbnb will pay for COBRA for that duration.

Airbnb employee here-- this is the consensus.

If it is the case it seems out of context to refer to this severance benefit as COBRA as it is my understanding this program has been specifically designed by Congress to force employers to offer the "opportunity" for the separated employees to get health insurance at full cost (without the employer subsidy).

Since the Affordable Care Act, it seems to be cheaper to forego COBRA benefit and enroll in one of the offered options. Lost of job let you do so outside of the official enrolment period.

Nobody is stopping aribnb from paying the full cost of Cobra, after the option is provided as is legally obligated.

It is certainly not cheaper to forgo free COBRA and buy insurance on the exchange.

My read of that is that AirBnB is paying the premiums for the next 12 months, as regardless of what the company does all employees are eligible to stay on their employee plan and pay their own premiums for 18 months.

... COBRA is 36 months for California employees.

First X (12?) month are paid by Airbnb (ex-employer). After that layed off ex-employee can keep health insurance through CORBA but will have to pay from own pocket.

COBRA is the same as the plan you had with your company. Most companies pay half, some pay 75%, some pay 100%, so it can be a sticker shock to many.

"Beneficiaries then have 60 days to inform the administrator whether or not they want to continue insurance coverage through COBRA."

If you are paying for COBRA you are doing it wrong. You take those 60 days to find private insurance. You basically get 2 free months of health insurance since you cancel on that 60 day mark and never pay. If on day 58 you need health insurance you pay COBRA. Otherwise - your new private insurance kicks in on day 60.

[Yes! You could have history of heart attacks and not find cheaper private insurance but I am hoping that isn't you!]

> Yes! You could have history of heart attacks and not find cheaper private insurance but I am hoping that isn't you!

Major medical health insurance in the United States for the individual and small business markets has had community rating since 2008. That means health insurers are not able to take health history into account when setting rates. They can only set rates based on age and tobacco usage.

When I left my last job, I "lived" in Arizona. There was only plan on the Obamacare exchange there, and it was the same price as my employer's plan with much shittier coverage.