You know the signs. Layoffs are announced weekly in the staff meeting and the boss has her resume on Monster.com. You don't want to be a sitting duck if you think your job is in jeopardy. In addition to initiating your own job search you may also take advantage of your health insurance while it lasts.

• Get your medical, dental and eye exams and get any necessary prescriptions filled.

• Sign on to your spouse or partner's health insurance plan if possible.

• Familiarize yourself with the terms of COBRA. Employers with twenty or more employees must make health insurance available to former employees for up to eighteen months after separation, whether you are terminated or leave voluntarily. However you must pay the full cost of the monthly premium that your employer used to pay.

• Find out about other health insurance plans. COBRA is expensive. Your employer may have had a plan with many options that you don't need. Consumer purchased health insurance has become more affordable and usually has lower monthly premiums available than what you would pay through COBRA.

Check the source link for additional information including mini-COBRA. Source