notime2
Shy Member
Posts: 22 
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Post by notime2 on Jul 10, 2014 19:12:26 GMT
DH is changing jobs. The new job wanted him to start right away, but we already had a family vacation booked for 7/19-26. So they put off his start date until 7/28. Not thinking about anything about other than getting out of current job, DH turned his 2 week notice in on Monday. His last day at current job is 7/18.
In the excitement of him getting this great new job, we just now realized that our health insurance will expire on 7/18 and we will have no insurance until 8/1/2014.
HR at his current job said that he has 30 days to decide if he wants COBRA, which we knew. Here is what I am questioning. DH swears that HR told him that we could "pick it up if something happened during that time and we’d be covered."
So my 3 questions are:
Can we get back coverage on COBRA if something happens while not covered?
Can we get COBRA coverage for just 2 weeks or is it month to month only?
Am I crazy to consider going without insurance for DH, me and 2 kids for less than 2 weeks?
HR will only talk to DH and he's not so great at writing down everything when he calls them. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated!
Michelle
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Post by kimpossible on Jul 10, 2014 19:18:07 GMT
Yes, you have 30 days to enroll in COBRA once employment has ended. So, you play the "wait and see" game. Meaning if something happens then you contact them about enrolling for Cobra and you should have no problem with it being retroactive to his final day of work.
I've not seen a plan that allows just 2 weeks of coverage? I'm pretty sure they are going to require a month at a time, that is usually how they bill the premium as well. Once you pick up the new insurance, provide them proof of your new insurance and they will cancel the Cobra coverage. I would ask if they would refund the premium paid if your new coverage starts mid month. (half a month of premium?) I bet they will.
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notime2
Shy Member
Posts: 22
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Post by notime2 on Jul 10, 2014 19:22:25 GMT
You are amazing! Thank you so much! We went through COBRA once 9 years ago while I pregnant with DS and it was a nightmare. Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it!
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Post by kimpossible on Jul 10, 2014 19:26:35 GMT
Anytime! Good luck - don't go out and buy bubble wrap for the kids for 2 weeks or anything! LOL
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Post by maryland on Jul 10, 2014 20:07:46 GMT
We went on COBRA about 5 yrs. ago. My husband lost his job, and we could hardly make ends meet yet we still had to pay for COBRA. It was very expensive. I didn't know about the 30 day thing. We are about to be in the same situation so that's good to know.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Jul 10, 2014 23:07:03 GMT
Will the insurance start immediately at the new job. Sometimes there is lag before the new insurance starts?
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Post by carolynhasacat on Jul 10, 2014 23:17:28 GMT
Here's the advice I heard on electing COBRA to fill a gap.
Fill out the form right away, write the check, place it in an envelope, put a stamp on it, and carry the unmailed letter with you. If something happens before your new insurance kicks in, put it in the mailbox on the way to the hospital. Don't risk waiting to ask questions or fill it out at the last minute, just in case something unthinkable happens. They're very strict with deadlines and payment and you don't want to put yourself at risk in the middle of dealing with an emergency.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Jul 10, 2014 23:22:54 GMT
Federal Cobra laws actually allow you 60 days to elect the coverage, but yes, many many people play the wait and see game.
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Post by Suziee2 on Jul 10, 2014 23:29:24 GMT
Really, I would think that your insurance is paid through the month of July. Premiums are paid a month in advance. They won't cut it mid-month. You may have him check on that.
Cobra is also monthly. Not weekly.
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Post by Penellopy on Jul 10, 2014 23:38:41 GMT
I maintain the insurance for our employees and our provider (United HeatlhCare) will not stop a policy in mid month. Health insurance is paid a month in advance. We have had employees leave on the 2nd or 3rd of the month, and their coverage continues until the end of the month. Then you have 60 days to elect Cobra coverage. You might look into seeing if his policy stops the day he leaves. Another thing, we have a 90 wait period before you can start coverage as a new employee. Most employers do have a 30 to 90 wait period.
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luvnlifelady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,428
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Post by luvnlifelady on Jul 10, 2014 23:39:01 GMT
We gambled on no insurance for about 6 months. It was a financial concern but it worked out (kids are teens). For 2 weeks, I might chance it again.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Jul 10, 2014 23:41:18 GMT
Really, I would think that your insurance is paid through the month of July. Premiums are paid a month in advance. They won't cut it mid-month. You may have him check on that. Cobra is also monthly. Not weekly. Many employers do cut off your benefits the day you leave. I used the hear that complaint multiple times a day when I worked in insurance regulation. My dh's employer does that but mine goes until the end of the month. |
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Post by hop2 on Jul 10, 2014 23:46:27 GMT
I thought that you needed to maintain continuos insurance coverage in order for new insurance to immediately accept existing conditions, otherwise it would not be covered for a specific length of time? Or did that change with the ACA?
I know when i was on COBRA it was because the new insurance would not cover my pregnancy, which they deemed a preexisting condition, if i did not maintain ( and provide proof ) of continuos coverage. I will admit that was quite awhile ago though.
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Post by eebud on Jul 10, 2014 23:59:26 GMT
Most large companies are self insured. Many times, they start insurance on the day you start and stop it on the day you end your employment with them.
I have done the "Wait and See" before. In my case, it was only one day. The thing is, I didn't even have the paperwork from my company to fill it out yet. That took a couple of weeks to get to me. Once I had the paperwork, I was already covered with my new employer.
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