Comments on: What is COBRA Insurance?

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:05:42 +0000

Stephanie,
I thought there was a 30 day grace period for paying your Cobra premium. Maybe check on that.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:36:49 +0000

We just got put on Cobra and we were 5 days late in our payment of our premium and we were cancelled. We paid for June and July was 5 days late. What do we do NOW? I have over 800$ in perscriptions a month.

By: Troy

Troy — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:11:14 +0000

Millions of Americans who lost their jobs prior to September 1, 2008 could not afford Cobra. Millions more elected Cobra but have now depleted their resources and can not continue on. Still millions more with pre-existing conditions who rely on cobra to bridge the 18 month gap between their former employers insurance and their state’s high risk insurance pools are struggling to pay their premiums every month to prevent being locked out of insurance permanently.

Please join us in asking Congress and the Obama administration to eliminate the arbitrary September 1, 2008 cut-off date and 9 month limitation of assistance by signing our petition

For more information please see our website by clicking on my name.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:31:22 +0000

Michael: Congrats on your new grandchild. I hope he/she and the mother are both healthy and doing well. This is all the information I have about the new COBRA benefits: Unemployment and COBRA Benefit Provisions in the 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan. As part of this stimulus bill, the government will subsidize 65% of the COBRA premiums for workers who were laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009. If you were laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and now, then you should qualify for the subsidy. However, I don't know how or where to go about claiming it. The best thing I can advise you to do is pay your full bill for February and until you get more information. Best of luck to you and the new addition in your family,

By: Michael Durbin

Michael Durbin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:45:03 +0000

COBRA stimulus package to the rescue! At last the calary has arrived! Right?

My COBRA cost is $1200/month, I can’t elect alternative plans because my wife and I both have pre-existing conditions that eliminate us from the lower cost plans.

Problem is, I haven’t heard anyone explain how I go about getting the government to pay 65% of my $1200 monthly cost.

I called my ex-employer whom I mail my payments to and the payroll/benefits person is as much in the dark as I am. I called my insurance company to ask them and they knew even less than my employer.

I have until the end of February to pay for my February COBRA. Since the Stimulus package became law on February 17, 2009, does this mean I can send my employeer 35% of my COBRA cost for February? No one I have spoken to has any idea.

Please help, my daughter-in-law is in labor with my first grandchild as I speak and I could really find better things to do with that extra $780. My son and daughter-in-law don’t even have a washer and dryer yet.

If my insurance company and my ex-employer are clueless who do I turn to for advice they will listen to?

Regards,
New Grandpa
Mike Durbin
Lenexa, KS

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:27:30 +0000

Valerie, thank you for the information you provided. I will add this to the article for clarification.

By: valerie

valerie — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:26:10 +0000

The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration exists to help benefit plan participants and beneficiaries (in private sector group-sponsored plans)know their rights under the federal law ERISA, and intervene on their behalf with employers and/or plan administrators. Questions about COBRA, pension, or other employee benefits benefits – what will happen with my 401(k)?Should be addressed to them for the definitive answers. Go to their website http://www.dol.gov/ebsa for the regional office in your area or call 866-444-ebsa for publications or to be directed to the office in your area.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:35:41 +0000

Rebecca: I have not heard of an extension of COBRA benefits beyond 18 months. Obama has yet to take office, so a change of this nature could still be several months away if he makes it.

By: Rebecca Shaffer

Rebecca Shaffer — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:31:14 +0000

Has anyone heard of a COBRA extension past 18 months for people not working and who are not disabled? Heard it may be in Obama’s stimulus package.

Please advise.

By: Jeff Clair

Jeff Clair — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:58:55 +0000

Patrick, very useful information.

Actually there are lots of insurance plans in the market which suits everyone as per their requirement, but very few people know about them. You have done a great job by providing information about this insurance plan.

All the best for your future ventures!

Jeff Clair