COBRA insurance between jobs....

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hi everyone! I am curious if anyone out there has used COBRA to bridge their health insurance between jobs. I have been offered a great new job closer to my family and my husband and I are moving the 1st of next month. Both of us are young and had no health problems so had planned on getting major medical insurance only for the next 3 months until my new insurance kicks in.....BUT....

My husband just injured his back playing soccer and has a pars fracture :crying2:. he is going to need a CT and MRI and bracing and PT for the next 3-4 months. If that doesn't work he needs surgery.

We don't want to risk him getting denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition so we are thinking COBRA is the best option. Does anyone have any advice? How do we apply and how much should we expect to pay? The most important thing to us is that he is treated well for this injury and that the insurance is continual. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

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You need to talk to HR at the job where you'll be using COBRA. They'll tell you the procedure and how much it will cost (as these vary depending on your policy). Be prepared for it to be pricey!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Cobra is very pricey. But most likely not remotely as pricey as the treatments/tests that he will be needing for those 3 months, so you will definitely come out ahead.

I'm just glad the injury happened while you still have time to take Cobra. And don't worry, HR is obligated to provide you with Cobra information prior to your departure.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

You may want to consider purchasing COBRA for your husband and finding a less expensive policy for yourself.

We had a similar situation where we needed 6 months of stop-gap coverage for my family. Everyone was healthy (except for me) and eligible for low-cost short-term insurance. I needed continued treatment for a pre-existing condition, so we opted for COBRA for just me, dropped the maternity, mental health, prescription and dental coverage and got my premium down to a reasonable amount. The rest of the family purchased a private policy that was much cheaper than COBRA.

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I just started nursing school and had to quit my job, I had to elect for COBRA coverage. Mine is going to cost about 500 per month, just for me, but the rep said that they will offer me other options. I don't have the option of private insurance because I have epilepsy and have already been denied. Once COBRA runs out I will apply for my state's high risk policy or get the student policy and pay for my meds out of pocket, as I do not have an adverse complications with the epilepsy.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med-Surg.

When I left my previous job they offered me COBRA. My husband and I were both 23 at the time and it was $1500/month!!! So basically half of my salary. I said FORGET IT!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

With COBRA you usually cannot drop the coverage on the primary insured (the former employee) although you can drop dependents. So you'll probably have to use the COBRA for coverage for both of you.

Be prepared for something like $1500-$2000/month or more, as stated in the previous post. However, this is not much more than the cost of one MRI, so it makes little sense to risk being without coverage with this known injury. Hopefully you two have some savings for life's contingencies such as this.

Good luck to you & hubby.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Thanks everyone... We will just have to bite the bullet and pay the $$ for a few months. The good news is I will be making more money and the cost of living is significantly lower so it will be do-able for a little while.

Do I ask HR about COBRA at the job I am leaving, or the job I am getting?

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med-Surg.
Thanks everyone... We will just have to bite the bullet and pay the $$ for a few months. The good news is I will be making more money and the cost of living is significantly lower so it will be do-able for a little while.

Do I ask HR about COBRA at the job I am leaving, or the job I am getting?

You should ask at the job you are leaving.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Does anyone know if we were able to qualify for an individual policy and have continuous coverage during the next 3 months if the new policy I get at my new job would be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions? If so this might be a less expensive option....

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

It is my (amateur) opinion that as long as you are continuously insured, an employer-supplied policy cannot deny you for pre-ex's. However, purchasing a private policy might be different - in other words, trying to find coverage for your husband's issues might be tricky. And expensive.

Ask your HR rep for COBRA info and find out exactly how much it will be so you can compare apples to apples when shopping around.

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I don't remember them asking me if i had back problems when filling out the private insurance app., but my friend who just had to take anti anxiety meds and had had surgery in the past on her foot her premium increase from the quoted 250 to 315. The 250, must just be for someone with no problems. They ask you about everything, so even if you are healthy now, if you had something in the past you still may be a risk to them.

There was a lady that coulld have got me insurance with a waiting period for my pre-ex condition, but I couldn't do it, I neve asked her how much and if I had to wait to be covered it had better been cheap.

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