I dont think you have a set time to have had the insurance before your eligible for COBRA

• NEED YOUR OPINION - ANOTHER COBRA QUESTION
  • Shop around before getting cobra. If you are leaving a job, you can get cobra. I am in the process - ann
    • Thank you - ANOTHER COBRA QUESTION
  • I dont think you have a set time to have had the insurance before your eligible for COBRA - WanderingMT
    • THANK YOU-nm - ANOTHER COBRA QUESTION

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

I'm reading a new plan that my company is probably going to switch to.  I just hired on and was going to sign up for COBRA so I wouldn't have a lapse in coverage for my pre-existing conditions etc.  Here is what this new plan says "This exclusion period may be reduced by the number of days of your prior creditable coverage.  The plan is not required to take into account any days of creditable coverage that precede a break in coverage of 63 days or more." 

So, can you please interpret what this is telling me?  If I get insurance from my new company prior to 63 days after the end of my previous insurance are my pre-existing conditions covered?  I was on insurance from the previous company for close to two years.

Thanks!!!

could be the end of the week or the end of the month or the day that the company calls the insurance company to cancel them. You cannot depend on thinking if you quit in the middle of the month you will be covered through the end of the month. You have to find out exactly from your company. Also for COBRA benefits you are eligible for up to 18 months or perhaps longer in special circumstances but yes you have to pay the premium all by yourself, the company doesn't chip in at all. The plus side is you are still in a group plan. You cannot get individual insurance unless you have NOTHING at all wrong with you, no high blood pressure, no depression, nothing. It is very important to not have a lapse in coverage greater than 60 days. If you do, you will lose coverage for any preexisting conditions when you go to your next GROUP insurance (this is the other part of HIPAA - portability). If for example you are covered for high blood pressure and you don't choose COBRA and your insurance lapses for more than 60 days, when you get on the next group plan, they will not cover your high blood pressure M.D. visits or medications for up to 1 year.

You can get relatively cheep individual coverage if you choose a high deductible, to carry you through. That is, if you can get it. Good luck.

unless you are an employee. ICs are not eligible for worker's comp or unemployment. ICs are expected to carry their own private disability - like AFLAC, etc. - like we can afford that.

Hate to be a downer, just didn't want you to get your hopes up on that one. Sorry to hear about your wrist. Not a good way to start the year. I would check with local assistance office.

new. I betcha.

 reports they listen to quite frankly.

My husband and I are on cobra right now.  For two of us with dental it's costing us $821 per month thru Aetna.

I turned in my notice on 6/28 and quit two weeks later.  I have received my last paycheck, reimbursement for PTO, a letter saying someone will be calling for an exit survey, and even my shipping labels to return my computer, etc. but have yet to receive any information about COBRA and I want to sign up!  It is now almost the end of the month and I'm worried that I have to get my money in by the first of the month.  Does anyone know?  I don't want to get stuck with a pre-existing condition problem.

Thanks!

I have been covered by COBRA since September 2007 with dental coverage.  I just received my new card today and I do not have dental, and my last dental appointment and treatment are not being paid.  Can they do this?  Drop coverage that I already have.  To top it off they are charging me $20.00 more a month. 

My husband is covered under AARP; however, I cannot get on his insurance even though I will be 50 in one month due to being overweight.  They say I have to lose at least 70 pounds. 

Does anyone know of an insurance company that would insure me for less than what I am paying COBRA?

Divorce is considered a "qualifying event" and would entitle you to 18 months (or 36 months in certain cases) of coverage through COBRA where you would pay the premium.  You can make an inquiry to the human resources department at his employer if there are children involved and the rate is the same for him to cover himself, the kids and you, and in that event, you would continue to have coverage without invoking COBRA.  The best thing is to read the policy and direct any questions to HR.

good luck

   The following speaks of my personal experience with Cobra - Insurance premiums out-of-pocket for any reason are an expensive undertaking (they are also tax deductible if you meet deduction requirements).  I was appreciative of having the option of Cobra because of my personal circumstances.  If you are considering going without health insurance for any amount of time, I would suggest that you may be gambling with more than your health.  One emergency surgery or health crisis not covered can cost you everything - I know because it happened to me.  Hospitals and physicians are bound by no debt code - they will sue you and take your home, business, car, pots, pans and the shirt off your back if they can redeem a penny for it.  They are not required to accept a payment plan.  My hospital told me that an indefinite payment offered by me to start of $100 every 2 weeks to start was not worth their time and effort.  A bit of trivia - I was employed by this same hospital for 10+ years.

COBRA guidelines are set by the Fed - all rules must be followed to the letter by all parties.  My premium was 120% of what my original premium while employed with the company was.  I went the entire 18 months during which my premium was raised once - without warning - if you fail to pay the premium exact to the penny, by the exact postmarked indicated date, you are terminated from the plan.  I was nearly terminated with the premium increase which arrived in a separate envelope along with the premium notice.  There are no exceptions to the rules governing Cobra - this works sometimes in your favor and sometimes in the ex-employer's favor.   After the first premium increase, I called 1 time each month on the same day and asked if there was a premium increase -  the point being don't take anything at face value when dealing with this issue.

        These guidelines also direct what happens when your Cobra involvement ends or if you terminate it before the 18 months are finished - there are also exclusions which may make the amount of Cobra coverage available longer than 18 months.  The day your Cobra ends, you have a set number of days to get involved with another plan - if you choose Cobra, make sure someone explains what happens when the plan ends, and if you are told "nothing" or "you are on your own," ask someone else who knows that they are talking about.

      If you choose Cobra, you need to speak to whomever administers the plan - some companies hire a third party, others do not.  Make sure you get all the facts.  

      There are obvious negatives but one thing is an absolute positive, if you meet all the guidelines each month and pay the correct premium on time, you will have continuation of your health coverage and time to plan for the future.  My research led me to understand that I might find a cheaper interim plan, but I might just as easily lose that plan for any number of reasons, leaving me high and dry.  I personally could not risk this.  I saw an earlier comment about not letting coverage lapse and preexisting conditions - If there is a plan anywhere which does not have a preexisting clause of some type for every new enrollee, I would be very surprised.  I talked to about 14 carriers over 6 months.  Not having a lapse in coverage or not exceeding the cushion of days provided by Cobra between policies is most beneficial, I feel, when you are applying for new coverage on your own - Companies are much more receptive to someone who has existing coverage as opposed to someone without, for obvious reasons.  However, this varies from ins co to ins so and you need to do your homework.

    One last thing, I cannot speak for every state, but I called our State Insurance Commish - wonderful lady whose staff went way out of the way to make sure I was fully clear on what my Cobra rights were. These people were totally on my side! I highly recommend this phone call to anyone trying to get health insurance.  The state is not allowed to recommend an insurance co; however, they do have ratings and data that you may find very helpful in choosing coverage.

I spent many, many hours learning about and personally experiencing this process - I hope you find something helpful here.  Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck!