COBRA question

1

I have recently lost “dependent” status so I have been offered COBRA. It will be about $520 a month and I am accepting this because I probably have no other choice. I am looking into to individual insurance right now (understanding it’s going to be a huge hassle because of diabetes) just to see if I can possibly find something cheaper.

My question is can I “apply” for other insurance companies while on COBRA? Will that interfere with my current coverage? What if I am accepted, can I change my mind? How does that work? Looking for ‘quotes’ doesn’t help diabetics, we need to fully apply to know what we are offered. Is this okay to do?

2

Joanie, I dont think you can do both it is one or the other. its not like a medicare and medicaid kind of thing.

3

I know i can’t do both, but I wanted to know if I could just apply to see what they would offer me, and then switch if I decided to, you know?

4

Joanie, I did COBRA on my parents’ Aetna insurance for three years after I turned 25. The COBRA plan covered me for a year and a half and the state of Texas extended that coverage for an additional year and a half. I had to move my wedding date to get coverage before I turned 28 so I wouldn’t lapse in coverage.

Yes, you may apply to other insurances privately during that time. I did. If you receive notification that you’re eligible for coverage, yes, you’ll have a period of time to enroll and can change your mind, but you cannot leave a COBRA program temporarily and come back to it. COBRA is designed for people who lose their coverage or are in transition and need to continue a plan until a new one begins. So you should know there is a specific end date with COBRA coverage and obviously it can vary by insurer and/or state.

As a Type 1, I was always turned down for individual policies. I filled out so many applications (a BCBS one was over 40 pages) to try to get individual insurance and was unable to find coverage. Didn’t matter that I could pay the premiums.

You might also see about California’s high risk pool insurance for the “uninsurable.” I applied in Texas for ours and was accepted but opted out when I decided to change my wedding date. Here are the details: CA Major Risk Medical Insurance Program, (800) 289-6574.

5

yea i think you can find that information out if you just go onto the insurance company website or call you can ask for rates etc… it may actually end up costing you the same thing or more…

i am not sure but i think you only have cobra insurance for about 18 months if i am not mistaken? did they tell you that?

6

in most cases is it 18 months, but the only one that goes longer is loss of dependency status (which is my case) and that is for 36 months

7

oh that is good to know. Below Melissa has some good information for you.

8

thank you so much for that info! I too doubt I will be offered coverage any other way but I figured I might as well give it a shot. We’ll see