4 ms·
That's the way COBRA works though: you have 2 months to elect it, but if/when you do, you have to pay premiums starting from the moment you lost your original c
by fred256 9y ago
That's the way COBRA works though: you have 2 months to elect it, but if/when you do, you have to pay premiums starting from the moment you lost your original coverage (and have retroactive coverage).
- specialist 9y agoIt's all about that first postmark, when you start the paperwork.
- weka 9y agoYep. And I elected ASAP. One of the first things I did starting new job. But the I continuously got the "we have you down for this provider" when my COBRA admin told me that that provider could no longer give me coverage. I needed to AETNA to file me under a new provider. Then I called AETNA and they still said "so and so" is listed as my provider. I told them to change it. "It's gonna be at least a week to update your information, sir." Call back next week, "sir, you are still listed on 'so and so' provider." It was exhausting.
- wolfgang42 9y agoThe way COBRA works is that they can just start giving you coverage whenever they feel like finally getting their act together?
- sjg007 9y agoNo, Cobra rules are all defined in Federal law. The OP could have gotten care at the time and asked the doctors to defer billing until the insurance resolved (or just submitted to the insurance company anyway and followed up later). If the doctor/hospital balks you can show them your Cobra paperwork to confirm it. But yes you have to pay the premiums.
- weka 9y agoIn retrospect this is probably what I should have done. edit: but the thing was, I trust them to give me good advice. The HR providers. I figured, well if they haven't said anything about deferred payments, it might not be applicable to my situation so I never brought it up...