Worried re Insurance/cobra woes. Advice?

caliotter3 · Jul 18, 2007

I think somebody made an admin error. You should call them and talk to them about this. Also call the govt insurance honchos in your state. Or for that matter, probably any good insurance broker can give you the ins and outs. I don't think they can bend the rules on the time limit. It will come to light someway. And for me, I've always found COBRA to be too expensive when I'm unemployed. Try to get your insurance through a new employer.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 19, 2007

Call HR at your original place of employment and ask to speak to the benefits manager. It is possible that they made a mistake by not offering you COBRA coverage upon your resignation and are trying to make up for that now. If you choose to accept the COBRA coverage, they will bill you for premiums retroactive to the date that your insurance coverage ended, which I assume would have been in February. You can ask whether that money is due as a lump sum or whether they will accept payments. If you decide not to take COBRA coverage, and you respond in writing declining it, you will have forever lost your opportunity to extend your insurance with this employer, so make sure you are certain of your decision, and respond within the alloted time frame.

It may also be a good idea to ask the benefits manager if accepting COBRA coverage will enable you to show proof of continuous insurance to your next employer. A new insurance plan can not deny coverage for any pre-existing conditions if you show proof of continuous insurance coverage over the previous 12 months. If you do not have such proof, a future insurer can deny payment for treatment of pre-existing conditions.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2007

Well it looks like the reason the first job didn't offer COBRA was that you had another job and had insurance coverage. Once they became aware of the loss of that coverage they then offered you. The benefits person is the one who is going to be able to tell you what your options are. If your lucky it will be paying from the point of no coverage i.e. loss of benefits with the second position not the first.

Beyond that if you have no ongoing chronic health issues i.e. things that would be pre-existing conditions down the road a cheaper option would be going with just a catastrophic medical policy.

Rj

Jolie, BSN · Jul 19, 2007

Well it looks like the reason the first job didn't offer COBRA was that you had another job and had insurance coverage. Once they became aware of the loss of that coverage they then offered you. The benefits person is the one who is going to be able to tell you what your options are. If your lucky it will be paying from the point of no coverage i.e. loss of benefits with the second position not the first.
Rj

The fact that the OP had a new job with benefits should have had no bearing on the original employer offering COBRA coverage. It is a federal law that COBRA be offered to individuals terminating employment with very few exceptions, for example being fired for gross and willful misconduct. It is not likely that the original employer is aware that the OP has left the second place of employment, and even if they did, they would have no legal obligation to offer COBRA based on her leaving a subsequent employer. Their offer of COBRA at this time is most likely an attempt to rectify an oversight at the time she quit the first job. It is also highly unlikely that they will bill her for insurance based on the date she quit the second job, as that would create a lapse in payment and coverage.

RNDude · Jul 19, 2007

Have you tried getting quotes for your own insurance policy instead of COBRA? That's what I did, for about half the price.

nurseaboveboard · Jul 20, 2007

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! Thanks! Well, yeah, I think my original employer screwed up, realized it and tried to rectify, finally sending me the COBRA options. My last ACTUAL insurance from the 2nd employer terminated 3/29/07. I have cretificates of insurance from both, stating my benefit termination dates. How much time do I have to find suitable employment and pick up insurance before pre-existing would be a factor? Understand that I am quite employable, but don't want to just take the first thing, just for insurance. My inclination is to gamble, try to stay healthy and wait for the next job to happen (risky). I am actively looking, but actually, I think my advanced degree might be hurting me right now with all the new grads floating about out there! But I am grateful to have them aboard and welcome them too, 'cause us "old" gals and guys will need nursing care sooner or later. July 29th will be the 4th month w/out insurance, but am not sure what the certificate of insurance will do for me. I plan to call the benefits specialist that finally sent me the COBRA, but what little interaction I've had with her so far, when I first went prn, has not inspired me. She didn't seem to have it all together. Thanks to all for your advice thus far and any further thoughts.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 20, 2007

My last ACTUAL insurance from the 2nd employer terminated 3/29/07. I have cretificates of insurance from both, stating my benefit termination dates. How much time do I have to find suitable employment and pick up insurance before pre-existing would be a factor?

I think it already is a factor. You have been uninsured for 4 months, which, to my understanding, would allow your next employer to exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage for a year. I think the only possible way to avoid this is to accept the COBRA benefits you are being offered by your first employer, but that would require you to pay premiums retroactive to your termination date (February?) If you decide to accept COBRA, I would ask HR to provide you with a written statement indicating how long your insurance coverage has been in effect(uninterrupted) and whether you would would qualify for immediate full coverage from your next employer, or be subject to the pre-existing exclusion.

If you would be subject to the pre-existing exclusion, then you might want to seek out a bare-bones private-pay policy as another poster has suggested. It would probably be cheaper.

nurseaboveboard · Jul 20, 2007

Thanks! I'm going to call HR "toot sweet." (Is that a saying? My mom always said it but don't know where it came from, or if I spelled it right). Although she's gone many years, she still channels through me. One of her favorite things to say when any of her kids would ask WHY? was "WHY? Why I'd rather be an apple 'cause there's no sleeves in a vest!" Lord, no wonder we're wired differently!!! My husband and kids are taking me to dinner tonight, should be fun. Thanks to all, and all have a great day!