Question:
PLEASE HELP WITH COBRA QUESTIONS?

Hi everyone! Losing all this weight has made me want to go back to school. I work in a DR's office so the hours are days. I was going to get a part time night job. My fiance told me he would pay the bills, isn't he great! here is the thing. I need to keep my medical insurance. I wanted to keep it through COBRA. I have only been at the job since April a little over 3 months. Am I able to do this? I read the handbook and for everything else, STD, LTD and FMLA it lets you know the length of employment except for COBRA. I cant ask my HR rep it is a small office and If I can't get COBRA then I would stay until I was able. They would not keep me. Marrying my guy is not an option. I need a TT and he has WALMART insurance you all know what that means. I would really appreciate your help, if you dont want to post the answer here is my e-mail [email protected] put COBRA in the subject.    — nicole79 (posted on August 2, 2003)

August 2, 2003
I think Cobra is available once you are covered by your employers insurance. Maybe you could call another employers HR dept and speak to the insurance person. I would think that it would be a standard policy. Some companies use a Cobra service to administer the policy, others just collect the money from you and administer it themselves.
   — sissie S.

August 2, 2003
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm
   — RebeccaP

August 2, 2003
I think it is immediately - like if you are every covered by the insurance, they have to offer it to you under COBRA.
   — bethybb

August 2, 2003
Congratulations on your decision to return to school! I'm a director of human resources (20+ years in the field). You are eligible for COBRA continuation as long as you have been covered by your employer plan for at least one day, but only if your employer is large enough to be covered by the COBRA law. There has to be a certain number of employees (I believe it's 50) for the employer plan to have to offer COBRA. Since you say you work in a doctor's office, I don't know how big they are. Also, COBRA will extend for only 18 months. If you need coverage longer than that, you'd have to get a private policy then (or another employer plan--which you COBRA right away again...).
   — Vespa R.

August 3, 2003
Also when checking into COBRA you may want to check out the premium costs, they are usual triple your cost now. So you may want to check with an individual policy through Anthem or Humana or the carrier you are with now. On occassions they are cheaper, and if you move over before 63 days of you are not subject to pre-existing conditions.
   — Jeana S.

August 3, 2003
If your company pays part of your premium (most do) then yes your premium will increase. You will be responsible for 100-102% of the total premium. It is a 2% admin fee that the law allows your company to charge if they so choose. However, some states do not allow the admin fee.
   — RebeccaP

August 3, 2003
Just to give you an idea....my insurance was about 120 per month while employed....my cobra...758. :)
   — RebeccaP