COBRA insurance

[Thirteen]

Talk to me about COBRA. Looks like we'll need it... *sigh*

[MrsPotts]

Looked into Cobra when we moved for medical school through my work - it was three times as much as just going through an independent insurance with basically the same benefits. I just couldn't fathom paying that much. And the school's insurance was just as much. Can you look into just another insurance instead of going through Cobra? We just signed up for Anthem.

[HouseofWool]

When does the new insurance start? You are allowed to have up to a 60 calendar day gap of coverage without it being considered a gap in coverage. Cobra is available retroactively so if you need it, you can add it at the last minute.

That is predicated on a willingness to live on the edge and with Bean, I probably would opt for catastrophic coverage and do any well baby visits after the new coverage starts.

[oceanchild]

Cobra is available retroactively so if you need it, you can add it at the last minute.

This was my key takeaway on COBRA. If you need insurance during the gap, you can sign up for it then. And if you don't end up needing it, you never pay for it. (Which is nice, because it IS expensive.)

[alison]

This is what we did for the gap in time when we moved to CA. We signed up, and then ended up not using it. I paid out of pocket for one OB visit, because I was 7 months pregnant!

[poky]

This was my key takeaway on COBRA. If you need insurance during the gap, you can sign up for it then. And if you don't end up needing it, you never pay for it. (Which is nice, because it IS expensive.)

This is true as long as your're uncovered for less than 60 or 62 or 63 days (not sure exactly, but it's in there somewhere). If your gap in coverage is going to be longer than that, you still can't wait longer than the 60 days to instate the COBRA, and when you do, you owe all the back COBRA premiums. So..if your gap is longer than that and you can't get individual insurance, go ahead and just get it. If it's shorter than that, it's probably simplest to hold onto the COBRA paperwork and only fill it out if/when you need to go to the doctor in that timeframe.

[lovelight]

Looked into Cobra when we moved for medical school through my work - it was three times as much as just going through an independent insurance with basically the same benefits. I just couldn't fathom paying that much. And the school's insurance was just as much. Can you look into just another insurance instead of going through Cobra? We just signed up for Anthem.

This was my experience as well. Outrageously priced. We went private when we had a gap in coverage.

[Thirteen]

It's okay to go with a carrier for short term? Did you just cancel after 30-60 days? I'm a little confused...
(Bean prevents me from researching this ad nauseaum).

[MarissaNicole]

Hmmm.... I had no idea you could purchase COBRA retroactively. But I have severe asthma, so a flare up could be expensive without insurance, my work insurance was also fabulous and I had already met my deductible so I paid the couple hundred dollars for one months coverage, it was worth the piece of mind to me.

[scrub-jay]

It's okay to go with a carrier for short term? Did you just cancel after 30-60 days? I'm a little confused...
(Bean prevents me from researching this ad nauseaum).

There is short-term insurance that is designed to only be held for a specific amount of time. And often, well child visits are covered 100%, even on the high deductible plans.

[lovelight]

It's okay to go with a carrier for short term? Did you just cancel after 30-60 days? I'm a little confused...
(Bean prevents me from researching this ad nauseaum).

I am not sure if all of the companies work the same, but we were able to get coverage on a monthly basis through Blue Cross Blue Shield without any type of "contract" and then we just cancelled it when I got insurance through my employer.