This is good advice. I have just started this process, and a few things happened that aren't addressed here. I worked for the company for 6 1/2 years. Last September a pain hit in my lower back that almost drove me to my knees. I was walking back to my office while on lunch. I was taken to the emergency room, and ended up having to have major surgery on my back. The surgery failed and as a result I became permanently and totally disabled. My employer was kept up to date on my condition, especially after my FMLA ended. Without warning, they terminated me, and my health coverage. I had been paying my portion of the group coverage out of my company provided disability policy. Four days after they terminated me, they called me demanding a letter of resignation, which I did not agree to, and failed to tell me that I had already been terminated and my health coverage was not in effect. I found that out when I went to my pain management doctor 2 days later. They wanted me to resign so that my disability coverage could be terminated. I tried to get the COBRA information right away so that I could figure out what I needed to do. It arrived a month later. It is expensive, but private insurance is worse because I have preexisting conditions. I now have to contend with multiple medical bill collectors because I have to send a small amount to them so that I can afford COBRA. I am 62 1/2, so I should be able to get Medicare after 2 years. I have filed for Social Security Disability, but will continue to receive my current disability until 2015. It is good to have advise available from those willing to help.