COBRA medical coverage question, please help.?

Question

I got laid off and my medical benefits are ending. The benefits officially end on March 1, 2008. The question is:

I have 60 days from that date to elect COBRA. If in those 60 days, if I don't elect or pay COBRA, will I still be covered for emergencies. I know I won't be able to go to the local doctor and get a presription of valium, but what about an emergency. Say my appendix bursts on April 10 and I have to go to the emergency room. Can I just pay COBRA then and there and be covered under the 60 day period. Or would they say I needed to pay up front before the incident and thus deny my claim in that situation. In other words, is the 60 days a grace period pending payment? I know car insurance has a grace periood before they receive payment before they terminate your coverage.

Any medical insurance professionals?

Answer 1

As with all Health Insurance questions, the accurate answer may vary from state to state.

Federal COBRA works consistantly, though.  If your benefits terminate Feb 29 (coverage always ends at the END of a month, not the beginning) and you don't pay COBRA, you've got no real benefts.  But if, on April 10th your appendix bursts and you are still within your 60 days to elect COBRA, you can back-pay your premiums for both March AND April, and be covered under the same benefits that you had at your previous place of employ.

But if, on day 61 your appendix bursts, you are going to be paying for that extremely expensive surgery 100% out of your own pocket if you have not secured other insurance.

Answer 2

Like was stated in the above, as long as you elect COBRA within the 60 days that you have to elect it, it will go back retroactive to the original term date of your policy.  You can't elect COBRA to start on any other date but the date your coverage ended.

Have you thought about applying for a short-term policy.  They would cover such things and if you knew you were going to be going on a group policy when the short term was up. you wouldn't be subject to a preexisting condition limitation.  Short-Term policies are a good alternative for a healthy person between jobs, and cost a lot less.

Answer 3

As long as you elect and pay the premium within the guidelines that the administrator has required,  your COBRA coverage will be retroactive back to the date your employer group coverage terminated. Generally, the premium is required when you send in the election form, but there may be a grace period with individual administrators.

Answer 4

You can elect the COBRA coverage at any time during that period. You will have to pay the premium from March 1 and you will be covered from March 1. Any and all charges you have during this time will be covered.

Answer 5

If you don't enroll in the COBRA continuation, any costs incurred during that 60-day window will come back to you.  The insurer will not pay them.

Answer 6

If you do not elect coverage by the end of the grace period you will not be able to get COBRA coverage. After the grace period is up you will have no health insurance coverage. (even if it is an emergency). If you do not want to elect COBRA coverage then I recommend to get an individual policy immediately. If you wait to get coverage until after you become ill you will have pre-ex and then they won't cover you for that illness for 1 year.