COBRA question - Insurance/HR experts here?

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konakat
konakat Member Posts: 6,085
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I hope it's OK to ask here -- I've searched the net for an answer and can't find one.  Here's the background:

I've been in COBRA since May 08.  If I get a new job and my employer's health plan, and then lose the job or it was a temporary contract position for a few months, does COBRA kick in again for the standard 18 months or does it count the previous 12 months I've been on since May 08?

IOW, what if you're only employed and covered by your employer for a couple of months -- does COBRA start all over again?

I hope my question makes sense -- thanks!

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  • rferraris
    rferraris Member Posts: 191
    edited May 2009

    If you are start a new job and are on that plan then the COBRA will start all over again.  I'd check with a life & health insurance agent where you live.  In Georgia if you leave a group plan that plan can be converted to an individual policy within 61 days of your last day of employment (w/o any health questions!).  I got my license last year but didn't know about that law until it was too late.  The policy that we got converted for my 2 children and husband was $100 cheaper than just my coverage on COBRA. Our COBRA for the 4 of us was almost $1500 a month.  When we made the conversion it was cut in half!

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  • Eldub
    Eldub Member Posts: 276
    edited May 2009

    If you're working for a new employer long enough to be covered by their health insurance plan, then a new COBRA cycle would kick in if you were laid off again.  (Around here, at least, most termporary contract positions don't include health insurance, so you'd just continue on your old COBRA until it expired - there wouldn't be a new COBRA period, since you didn't have employer-offered insurance to extend with COBRA.)

    HTH!

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  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited May 2009

    Thank-you!  I never even considered rolling into an individual plan -- I thought it would be too expensive.  Since it's only me on COBRA isn't not too bad -- $370/month.

    I managed to find an agency that offers health insurance -- the hourly rate is a bit lower but in the long run it is a better deal.  I've found that some agencies offer plans, others only after you've contracted through them for a year.  Since my COBRA runs out at the end of this year, insurance is a must have for any job I'm looking at.

    Thanks again!!!

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