Need advice - anyone in HR? (cobra issue)

17 years ago

It amazes me what a knowledge base we have here and not just related to cooking :)

I've been working full-time and going to law school part-time (four nights a week) since late August. I love school and have been keeping my head above water, in spite of spending three hours commuting each day and losing my weekends to schoolwork. DH is incredibly supportive.

Once of the reasons we moved to Jersey in 2006 was to be nearer his elderly family. As expected, he's devoting more and more time to eldercare issues. A few things blew up last week and it's making our already difficult schedules even harder to handle.

This morning we talked about me leaving my job or going part-time. I make so little that it wouldn't impact us much in terms of pay, but I'd lose my fantastic and cheap ($200 a month for both of us) health insurance. DH is a self-employed consultant and in the past we've paid almost four times that with small business policies. I also have a wacky thyroid and am worried about a pre-existing condition clause.

Would I be eligible to keep my insurance for a period of time through COBRA? I know it's much more expensive, but am just trying to look at options. I can get cheap insurance through school, but the coverage is awful compared to what we have now.

Cutting back my hours would really make sense and help up both keep our sanity.

Any advice is appreciated!

Sue

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Comments (7)

Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Maybe this will help Sue.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cobrainsurance
arabellamiller
17 years ago
We may be in a similar situation at some point, and I have been told by a number of people that finding a private insurance group is far better than paying for COBRA. We're fine for the next year or so, so I haven't really delved too deeply, but COBRA may not be your best bet.

AM
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fearlessem
17 years ago
I believe what terri posted above is an actual insurance company that is calling their insurance COBRA, which is a little confusing. Or at least it is not talking about COBRA in the traditional sense as their website refers to selecting from different health plans and companies, which is NOT part of the traditional use of the term COBRA.

The link below has details on the more traditional interpretation of COBRA coverage -- which is continuing to receive coverage through your employer's insurance policy once you are no longer employed there. It looks as though

a) if your company has 20 or more employees AND
b) you are eligible through a qualifying event (which includes quitting, being laid off, or having one's hours cut back)

You are BY LAW eligible to purchase coverage for 18 months. The charge for the insurance can be no more than 2% more than what your COMPANY was paying for your insurance.

Hope this helps, and hope you can make it work for you to cut back those hours!

Emily

Here is a link that might be useful: COBRA information
lpinkmountain
17 years ago
I did COBRA for the full 18 months and I somewhat regret it. It was so dang expensive and now I have another policy that is just as good, IMHO, and costs about half what I paid with COBRA.

There are two Web sites I went to in order to find a good policy. I found them in a newspaper article in the local paper.

www.vimo.com
www.ehealthinsurance.com

To get price quites from VIMO you will have to give your contact information. I had calls and e-mails from about 5 insurance agents the same day I submitted the information. I don't know if that was a good or bad thing, I mean these are the people you will probably end up buying the policies from. I suggest getting the information from all the guys who call and then making your decision. I bought my policy from the first guy who called. I am satisfied and I did compare prices and policies online so I knew what I was getting myself into.
Gina_W
17 years ago
Yes, shop around. People are surprised when they find out that employers don't necessarily get better rates for group insurance than you can for individual or family insurance.
As an employer and someone who had independent insurance for a time, I know.

You can also get independent/family insurance from an agent, who may be able to help you find the best policy.
goldgirl
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks everyone!

I've done some shopping around. Insurance rates are astronomical and coverage awful compared to what I have. Still waiting to hear back from my HR person on Cobra rates.

My boss and I traded a few e-mails (we're both on vacation) and are going to talk Monday. He suggested, in a round about way, that we figure out a way for me to take some unpaid time off - that way, I wouldn't have to make a decision in haste and could buy some time in case things do calm down. I'll see what he says.
Gina_W
17 years ago
You should be able to get the info directly from your insurance carrier too. I have all our employees communicate with the insurance company directly about any questions.

COBRA is there to make sure you have the option to have insurance, if you are refused for individual coverage for any reason.

Need advice - anyone in HR? (cobra issue)

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Terri_PacNW

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Need advice - anyone in HR? (cobra issue)

Comments (7)

Terri_PacNW

arabellamiller

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fearlessem

lpinkmountain

Gina_W

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