Health Insurance? COBRA? Help!?

Question

My fiance and I are moving out of state. We don't think that COBRA will cover us because of the move out of the region. We don't want to take a chance and not have health insurance while we're between jobs. What should we do? Short term plan?

Answer 1

Before making a decision such as this, I would first of all find out if you have nationwide coverage under the plan before you go onto COBRA.

When on COBRA, you are required to have the exact same benefits as you did when you were an active employee.

If your policy is Non-HMO, you more than likely have nationwide coverage. I'd check with the carrier.

Answer 2

If you elect to take your COBRA benefits you will be covered exactly as if you were still employed by the sponsoring employer. The only difference is how much you will pay for coverage. If the plan provided for coverage outside of the catchment area (in network or out of network) you'll have exactly the same benefits regardless of where you move to.

A key benefit of your COBRA benefits is that it provides continuity of care for any pre-existing conditions. If you buy a private short-term plan and have any pre-existing conditions they may not be covered under the plan. As expensive as COBRA coverage may be it is often less expensive than private healthcare coverage unless you are in exceptionally good physical condition. Additionally any copays and deductibles paid to date will carry with your COBRA benefits. If you take out another policy you'll likely have to start from scratch on those. Ditto for any catastrophic caps if the employer sponsored plan had such a feature.

Answer 3

Sure it will.

COBRA works EXACTLY like your current insurance does. So read the policy that you are currently covered under...if it has in-network doctors out of state, then you need the coverage.

COBRA is just what the policy is called when you are no longer working for the company. "COBRA" actually doesn't provide the coverage....the letters stand for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act that was passed in 1985.

Your current insurance carrier has the coverage, your employer just stops contributing to the policy.

Answer 4

Well, you're right in that the COBRA plan could very well not cover you once you've moved out of the state.

One thing to do, is divide & conquor. One of you goes out there first, finds a local agent and a place to live, gets the health insurance (short term) set up, find a job, THEN the other guy can follow. Wouldn't it be nice if ONE of you was working at all times?

Answer 5

Your COBRA policy will have the same benefits as your current coverage and you will have many of the same rights as a regular employee (like changing plan options at the groups open enrollment and special enrollment for dependents that would be eligible due to married & birth/adoption). If your current coverage does not cover out-of-state care, then your COBRA coverage would not as well.

Answer 6

a great sort of long winded solutions right here. The COBRA election facilitates you to proceed coverage below your former employers well being plan. in case you opt for this coverage you pay 102% of the top rate volume the corporate replaced into paying. in case you have a pre-latest subject i could pass with the COBRA election. If there at the instant are not pre-latest pass with the extra inexpensive coverage. in case you pass with COBRA and a subject looks in the 18th month your coverage will stop and the guy coverage could not be an determination. in case you do have some well being themes you're able to desire to choose COBRA, have those issues taken care of below the former employers coverage and then pass with somebody coverage. this could save those expenses out of the claims checklist for the guy coverage. good luck!

Answer 7

COBRA should work but it may cost less with a short term policy. Once, when it was going to cost too much to cover my 16 year old on a plan through my employer, we got one through State Farm (for cheap).