US Health Insurance Coverage?

Question

Health Insurance Coverage

I worked in the USA a visiting scholar (holding J-1 Visa) from May 2006-July 2007. I was then required to enroll in the university health insurance program. When my visiting scholar program ended, I have signed all documents to terminate my contract with the university.

But I found out that the university kept charging me $500 each month for my health insurance since I left the USA in August 2007 (until January it costs me $3,000). They gave me a reason that it was required by the laws after employment, I was required to continue it for 18 months, but I can terminate it anytime. I think this is a mistake because I am a foreigner who worked in the USA as a visiting scholar and I left the country after the program ended.

I protested the university, but they just gave me a simple reason that I had failed to tell them that I did not want health insurance after the contract.

Should I, as a foreigner, be required and obliged by the US laws for a continuity of my health insurance for 18 months?

THEN, whose mistake? Who will take a responsibility for a payment of $3,000?

Answer 1

You shouldn't owe it, but if you get a lawyer to fight it, it's going to cost you that much money anyway to pay the lawyer.

Did the University contract with a private company for the insurance coverage?  Did the insurance cover you while traveling?  In other words could you have used the coverage even though you were not on campus?  

Contact an "ombudsmen" who handles insurance complaints  with state capital in the state the university is located.  Talk to that person about what you could do.  That's all I can think of right now.

Answer 2

I feel these guys can help you in settling your health insurance issue. Contact them.

Answer 3

The University is complying with federal law. COBRA regulations mandate that they offer you contination of your health insurance coverage for up to 18 months. But is seems as though the university has it turned around.  They make the offer and you choose whether or not to extend the health insurance. It would appear that they default to your acceptance of the continuation and it is up to you to opt out if you don't want it.

I would be very surprised if this is the way they would interpret COBRA compliance because it would certainly be an unusual interpretation of the law.

Instead I would suspect that when your contract ended you may have either signed a form upon exiting the university system that accepted the continuation or that your contract specified that you would automatically receive the continuation (at your expense).

You need to talk to the university administration to determine how it is that they automatically assumed you wanted the health insurance continuation.