Finding non-employment-based health insurance.

For several years, I've advised readers to get non-employment-based group insurance for major medical, catastrophic, and excess medical expense needs, in addition to any employer-based plans they might have. Should disability make working impossible, an employee forfeits employee-based health insurance.

Most people who leave employment due to disability will qualify for Medicare after 24 months. Federally mandated COBRA insurance can extend no more than 36 months after employment ends. Although the new Kassebaum-Kennedy law allows people who leave employment to continue their coverage beyond COBRA, the premiums may be unaffordable as coverage is no longer offered at group insurance rates once COBRA runs out. At that point private coverage is often impossible to buy at any price.

But how, exactly, does someone go about finding--and then joining--a group or association that offers group major medical, catastrophic, or excess plans?

The answer is creative sleuthing. You can get as much insurance as you can afford--even after you have been diagnosed--if you use some imagination. You will need to locate information about organizations. The larger the group, the better the chances that it offers the kind of health insurance that might be useful to you. The best research tool for this job is the Internet. If you don't have Internet access at home, try your local public library. A good overview of association group insurance can be found at http://www.aafp.org/ family/aafpins/monograp.html.

Begin with the groups you already belong to--any professional, trade, or religious association. Ask your church if a group health plan is available. If you ever attended a college or university, look up the alumni association's website (use "edu" as the extension).

A variety of Internet search engines are available, but you need to use the right key words. A search of the word "association" brings up in excess of a million listings! A better strategy is to use "association" with an identifier. For example, I found references to approximately 70,000 web listings using "law association." I could also search "law organization" or "law society" for additional references.

If you exhaust all your obvious leads without finding what you need, it's time to get creative. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to fit the membership target in order to join a group. The main requirement may be the yearly dues. For example, you can join the National Association for the Self-Employed even if you work for a company, or don't work at all (http://www.ultranet.com/~nase-911/). You may be able to join a professional organization that isn't your profession as long as the organization does not require a specific certification for its members. Dues can vary from a few dollars to several hundred, so get all your information first before you join.

I became a member of an organization of "female executives" in order to make use of the good hospital indemnity insurance it offers--and I pay dues for this privilege. I simply consider the dues to be part of the cost of the policy when I calculate the relative value of the coverage.

So, what associations are you eligible to join? How about a nursing society? Association for teachers? Welders? Check into associations organized around hobbies and interests. Classical music lover? If you are over 50, try the American Association of Retired People or similar groups.

Find references using a search engine and key words, and start reading. Look for membership requirements--and figure out if these might apply to you, even if you've never worn white shoes or held a blow-torch. Next, check what group insurance benefits are available. Is the insurance "guaranteed issue," and if so, under what circumstances? Sometimes a website will offer details but if it does not, find the telephone number or address and write or call. When you have the facts in hand, you can decide if the cost of dues plus premiums makes the available benefits worthwhile.

After a recent evening of web browsing, I'm thinking about becoming a "friend" of the University of Alabama. I've never been to that fine institution, but the alumni association seems to have a great catastrophic major medical plan. It's not an association I ever thought I'd belong to, however, if the required donation is reasonable enough, I'll be happy to join up.

Laura Cooper's advice column was called "According to the Law." We've changed the name but not the content. Ms. Cooper, a disability rights lawyer, is the Society's Life Planning and Legal Consultant.