Question:
What Do You Do If You Get Laid Off During Approval Process?

This question is for someone else who doesn't have internet access. She was laid off on Friday and was told her insurance "stops" immediately and that the insurance information would come in the unemployment packet. She's freaking out and doesn't know what the process is now to get re-insured while she is on unemployment. Does anyone know who she calls or what the process is? Should she just wait for the unemployment packet? thanks    — susanje (posted on October 5, 2003)

October 5, 2003
You need to ask the company if you can pick up Cobra coverage? It is very expensive (about twice what your normal coverage costs), but it will continue your insurance benefits until you can have the surgery done. The exact same thing happened to my daughter, and she had to pay the expensive insurance premiums with Cobra for two months, but it was worth it to have the surgery paid for. I hope you can get it worked out. --Glena
   — ghe5522

October 6, 2003
By law they have to offer you continued insurance coverage for either a year or 18 months. It's called Cobra and mine was about $370.00 for a single person. The information for Cobra will be in that Unemployment package. It usually gives you 30 - 60 days to submit payment and your insurance is still in effect until the date shown on the paperwork in the packet. Paying the high Cobra premium will be worth it if you are approved. Once my Cobra ran out I could not get regular insurance because of my weight. The state law in NC says that if your Cobra runs out and you can not get coverage, they have an arrangement with BCBS that requires them to give you coverage no matter what your problem is. The catch with that was: the cost of the 'high risk' policy was $1406.00 a month. So, even though the Cobra may be pricey - believe me when I say it could be worse. Best wishes.
   — Kimberly J.

October 6, 2003
Does your friend's employer know that she was looking into WLS? If there's a connection between the surgery and her being laid off, I'd get a lawyer and do some investigating. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.
   — Yolanda J.