COBRA insurance?

Question

I was wrongfully termed from my job on 3/2/07 and have yet rec'd anything regarding COBRA insurance or any termination paperwork. Is this legal for the company to not do either of this?
Thanks

Answer 1

Well, you can find out about COBRA from your health insurance company.. It is very expensive and I do not think it is worth it. You can get a personal policy through blus cross blue shield fairly cheap compared.

Answer 2

COBRA notification must be sent within 30 days from the qualifying event (in this case, the termination of your employment). However, if your employment was terminated due to "gross misconduct" (which is defined by Federal regulation), your ex-employer doesn't have to offer COBRA to you at all.

If your employer employed fewer than 20 employees over the previous year, COBRA doesn't apply. If this is the case, contact the Insurance Commissioner's office of the state where your employer is based and ask whether there are any "continuation" laws applicable to small employers. Another resource is your benefits booklet, which must list all options available to you. Under many states' continuation laws, it's the ex-employee's duty to ask for the coverage, and the ex-employer is not obligated to offer it. So it may be that your ex-employer is waiting for you to ask.

COBRA also doesn't apply to Church-based plans and certain Church-based organizations, or to plans sponsored by the Federal government (which has its own version of COBRA). So if you were employed by any of these, see your benefits booklet for available options.

Answer 3

Contact your employer immediately and demand the cobra conversion papers. Do it in writing and keep a record that they received it. Cobra benefits are usually pretty pricey. Have you looked into a short term medical plan ( usually good for a year or less) to see you through? Also, you can purchase an individual permanent plan. See an insurance agent for help.

Answer 4

I believe employers have 30 days to notify the employee of COBRA, which would make them past due in this case. The question of "is it illegal"? It's not really a legality issue, but one of if you were injured and needed medical attention, you could possible sue them for the cost of the coverage for not properly informing you about COBRA.

You're not going to send anyone to jail, get the government to fine the company, or make lots of money in a lawsuit by pressing the issue.

Answer 5

1) If you're healthy, just call a health insurance broker and buy a plan. 2) COBRA is neither cheap nor expensive, it just IS whatever the cost of the plan is (plus a small administrative fee, if charged). 3) Medicare is for those 65 or older and the disabled. 4) Don't be surprised if the cost is well over $1000/month....

Answer 6

Under most circumstances, companies (at least, companies that are subject to COBRA rules) are required to send the COBRA documentation to you within 30 days. (That doesn't mean you'll receive it in 30 days, it may take a few days to reach you beyond that.)

However, as I mentioned, not all companies are subject to COBRA. If yours isn't, you won't get anything.

If you want to check whether or not the company should be subject to COBRA, you can visit the Dept. of Labor web site on COBRA: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

Answer 7

I might suggest you to visit this site where you can compare quotes from different companies: http://COVERAGE-FINDER.NET/index.html?src=2YA;_ylv=3?qid=1006051823494

RE :COBRA insurance?
I was wrongfully termed from my job on 3/2/07 and have yet rec'd anything regarding COBRA insurance or any termination paperwork. Is this legal for the company to not do either of this?
Thanks
Follow 10 answers

Answer 8

You can talk to the HR dept to find out which company your Cobra coverage is through. It is usually very expensive. I would suggest getting your own policy now. You may want to try a website that compares multiple companies at once to get you the best price. I am paying less than ½ after I did.

Go to: http://www.insureme.com/landing.aspx?Refby=616163&Type=health

Take care,
Casey

Answer 9

You will get something in the mail in the coming week probably. I got terminated from a plant last year and i was under Cobra and i got my letter in the mail telling me i was termianted under Cobra that very week i was fired.

Answer 10

IF they have few enough employees (number varies by state) they might not be required to offer you cobra.

If I were you, I'd call the HR office and ask.