COBRA

[Emancipation 2]

So.. here's the deal. My husband and I both were forced to quit our jobs last month. Our health insurance was terminated as of 03-01-08 and at the exact same time our "former" employer decided to switch insurance carriers effective 03-01-08.

SO... we get a letter from our former Insurance Carrier notifying us that because our former employer was not renewing their insurance coverage with us we not be eligible for COBRA benefits from them.

THEN we get our former employer to phone the "new" insurance carrier and they advised that they didn't have to offer COBRA to us because our former employer had under 20 employees and they weren't required under Federal Law to provide insurance.

SO we're being denied on both fronts COBRA benefits.. Which is what I thought the COBRA law was to protect employees against.

Is there really this loop hole?

[Dan J 277]

You would be paying the full unsubsidized cost of health care under COBRA. Your likely better off applying for private insurance provided that you are both healthy and don't have to worry about pre-existing conditions.

[Emancipation 2]

You would be paying the full unsubsidized cost of health care under COBRA. Your likely better off applying for private insurance provided that you are both healthy and don't have to worry about pre-existing conditions.

My hubby's children both have pre-existing conditions and we are fully aware how much our COBRA costs. We are prepared to pay 100% of the premiums on this one, until my husbands new employer's benefits kick in (in 30 days).

I want to know if it's legal for both insurance companies to refuse to cover my husband and his children under COBRA.

[sugarshak 0]

You would be paying the full unsubsidized cost of health care under COBRA. Your likely better off applying for private insurance provided that you are both healthy and don't have to worry about pre-existing conditions.

My hubby's children both have pre-existing conditions and we are fully aware how much our COBRA costs. We are prepared to pay 100% of the premiums on this one, until my husbands new employer's benefits kick in (in 30 days).

I want to know if it's legal for both insurance companies to refuse to cover my husband and his children under COBRA.

http://cobrainsurance.com/information/arti...2007/Page1.html

This link states the issue regarding the 20 employees. The previous employer from one of you should know whether or not they offer COBRA and if they do, then regardless of a new insurance carrier is now in effect or not, if you are offered COBRA by your employer, the new insurance has to allow you to have benefits thru them if that is the new carrier for that employer. I hope this helps.