Anyone used or have COBRA insurance?

[kobuzz]

Does anyone have or have used COBRA insurance? I had Blue Cross Blue Shield but no longer work there and I am trying to find out if it's a good swap until I find another job or just take private insurance myself.

[BradM]

I haven't had to use it but I hear it's expensive.

[slow99]

You can sign up whenever you need it - don't sign up if you aren't going to use it.

[jewozzy]

Cobra is available to you for 6mo (at least when I had to use it) after you end employment with previous job. It can also be back dated which is how I used it when I had to. I didn't pay for it until I needed it them had to back date.

[kobuzz]

You can sign up whenever you need it - don't sign up if you aren't going to use it.

I have some significant health issues and want to make sure I don't have a lapse or I'm afraid who ever I switch to won't cover them. I am trying to be proactive to make sure it doesn't lapse or I might be in trouble.

[kobuzz]

Cobra is available to you for 6mo (at least when I had to use it) after you end employment with previous job. It can also be back dated which is how I used it when I had to. I didn't pay for it until I needed it them had to back date.

I am reading through the web site but I have the retention of a rock sometimes. I will go back and see if I can find that. Thank you that would great if it worked like that.

[line-em-up]

From my understanding from what I was told by HR after I was laid off was, it is basically you being able to keep the insurance you had with the employer, except you have to pay the full premium (yours and the part your employer was paying). In my case, I was paying $600/month for my family when employed, but then was going to have to pay $600+$1200=$1800/month. I didn't confirm what they were saying since I had no intention of paying that much.

[The King]

I assume the advantage to COBRA is that you can retain a group rate premium which should be less than the rate for an individual buying the same coverage.

[BP]

I assume the advantage to COBRA is that you can retain a group rate premium which should be less than the rate for an individual buying the same coverage.

You also can wait 60 days before deciding whether to keep it or not, then 45 additional days to pay the past premiums. So if something does happen you have 105 days before having to pay anything for coverage. Or if you never need the insurance just don't pay anything.

[Chili]

I have some significant health issues and want to make sure I don't have a lapse or I'm afraid who ever I switch to won't cover them. I am trying to be proactive to make sure it doesn't lapse or I might be in trouble.

Keep in mind that under Obamacare they cannot deny you due to pre-existing condition. Assuming that's why you want to avoid a gap.

[RWhite]

I retired a year (age 64) early to take care of my wife when her medical problems turned for the worse. She had "significant" medical problems. We didn't notice any difference in coverage (worked for TI/Raytheon then) except for the huge premiums. Since the time paid was about 10 months, I was happy to keep the coverage and bear the premium increase.