How do I get on COBRA medical benefits?

All I can tell you about COBRA is that it is very expensive.

Here is a site that may answer any of your questions:



Drew,

Trust me on this. Get yourself insured with a company like Fortis for 6 months or even a year. I did that when I was a temp at my present company and not receiving any health insurance. It was very cheap and inexpensive compared to COBRA.

 

He's right. COBRA can run as much as $500 monthly for just you. Unicare or something like that will fend off catastrophe until you get another job.

To answer your question though...your benefits coordinator should have sent you a packet. Give your former employer a call and tell them you never got the COBRA information and you would like to receive it.

 

I'm a licensed agent. I don't work in medical insurance specifically but I know some things about it. There are such things as Interim insurance policies. I think this is what MR was referring to. You generally can't get them for more than 6 months, sometimes 12. They are high deductible and limited benefits but they are catastrophic protection.

They are very cheap because they are interim in nature. This would be a good choice if you see yourself getting a job before the insurance expires. Generally, they are not considered renewable-- maybe once... but certainly don't count on it as a long-term solution. Allowing that would compromise their underwriting and they would lose money. Insurance companies don't like to lose money.

If you go to the link that Manny provided, you should see a pop-up window for Fortis' Temporary/Interim insurance plan. That is a solid choice.

Alternatively, you might consider an individual plan with a high deductible to keep the costs down. That would be a plan you could keep for the long-term if you wanted.

Your ex-employer should have provided you with that information. COBRA is law not insurance. It directs companies to make continuing benefits available to terminated employees for 18 months.

You do have to mail in the payments on a timely basis though or that insurance is gone.

 

i haven't had health insurance for most of this year!

 

The exact thing happened to me it was even the same day different insurance. I looked at all the gibberish, then the $346 per month jumped out at me . They did send me information on how to get it at least. Anyway thanks for the thread and the advice posted from everyone because I had no idea where to start. BTW- is Cobra not a perfect name for this "service"

 

Perhaps. If your insurance gets cancelled and they failed to provide you with the proper information to continue it. This is the purpose of the COBRA-- mandated by the Federal Government to protect employees.

Once they provide you with the path, though, it is up to you to make the payments on time each and every month thereafter.

 

You remployer has to offer you the same insuranc eyou had once you leave. You have 60-90 days to elect in/out.
As for cost it is cheaper than getting your own insurance. It is the comapnies cost plus 3%.
Give you old employer a call.

 

Isn't it true that coverage has to remain continuous? If you wait 60 days to decide then you have to pay 60 days of back-premium then the current month's premium I believe. That would be a burden.

It may or may not be cheaper. It depends on the coverage. You can get cheaper individual insurance; it may be poorer in benefits but it will be yours to keep if you need it. The larger the group you are part of the cheaper your insurance should be.

I believe that COBRA only applies to groups of 20 employees or more.

 

Anti, that kind of Cobra may benefit Drew in the realm of puppies and unicorns, but in the real world we need insurance that covers aviator glasses and matchsticks.

 

You're nuts!

 

i've been VERY lucky when it comes to health issues (knock on wood). I haven't had a cold in over 10 years, and I've only made on health insurance claim in the last 20 years! As idiotic as it is (and I know its stupid), I 'm banking on that to save a few $$$.

funny thing is I was planning to extend the warranty on my W/D and my car this month, but not my health. I didn't realize the stupidity of that decision until my parents pointed it out. My dad flat out asked me "so is your washer and car more important to you than your life?" that put things in perspective!

 

Edit.

 

As many times as you get hit by cars, I'd get insurance quick.

That, and the bleeding nipples.