COBRA Basics: Temporary Health Insurance Is Now More Affordable

Reader Comments
Back to article

If you have a temporary job without benefits can you continue the cobra insurance that you already have because of being laid-off from a different job.

Carmen Carfagno of PA 12:31PM June 03, 2010

My husband got laid off yesterday and we are covered on that
Company's plan until March 31st of this year. He is 77 and I
am 76...are we eligible for that reduced Cobra plan where you
pay 35 per cent of the premium? Thank you

Carol of WI 4:06PM March 20, 2010

I have COBRA for myself and my spouse since he was on my employer's health insurance plan as a dependent. My husband is 70 and is on Medicare. WE have only been on COBRA since July 1st due to my lay-off. The insurance company is refusing to pay their part of a bill since they claim that when a dependent reaches 65 and is on Medicare, COBRA is no longer the primary insurance carrier, and Medicare is responsible.
Does anyone know about this? It's all very confusing.

Wanda Wayman of OR 2:57PM December 28, 2009

I need health coverage for my daughter for a year. She is taking a year off from college before she continues with her education. Please offer me some suggestions. My insurance company will insure her for $372 per month. She can not afford that amount.

Constance Bradley of PA 12:03PM August 26, 2009

I need health coverage for my daughter for a year. She is taking a year off from college before she continues with her education. Please offer me some suggestions. My insurance company will insure her for $372 per month. She can not afford that amount.

Constance Bradley of PA 12:02PM August 26, 2009

Opponents of single payer always sight one man's opinion about how bad the single payer system is. Also for every one person or politician that says it's bad there are 10 that say it works.
Also there are countries like Japan that have successful single payer systems. They have the longest life span in the world.
Isn't medicare a single payer system?
I find that many opponents of health care reform are elderly on Medicare or they're going to the VA hospital or uninsured.
The VA hospitals are not as bad as they use to be. They are crowded right now because of the crisis in the US health care system.

Dave of OR 3:47PM August 16, 2009

I have several questions.
I was laid off 3/03/09 and received by cobra option for payment on 3/10/09. It does not reflect the 65% reduction in the premium and from searching it looks like my plan is not covered under the stimulus plan. I have a UHC HSA plan-my former employer is based out of Georgia and I live in Indiana.
If I am not covered,can I..
(1) Request another plan from former employer? (This is the first year I choose HSA due to high deductable but don't think they offered anything cheaper.)
(2) File a appeal due to fact I only had HSA for 2 months and have every little money in my account?
(3)obtain my own cobra coverage from other providers?
Thanks

Pat Williams of IN 12:57PM April 09, 2009

Anyone calling for a single payer, socialized medical system really has no clue on the repricutions of such a horrofic system. See the comment below for more details, he speaks the truth.
How about tort reform, to limit the excessive law suits that really lead to huge problems, including excessive malpractice premiums that more than double the cost of health care in America.

HSA Expert of GA 2:08PM March 31, 2009

I am 71 years old and enrolled with Anthem Blue Cross. I also have Medicare coverage. When I retired in Feb. 2008 from the Aerospace Corporation I was enrolled in a new Dental Plan (Safe Guard I think) that did not have my Dentist (who I have been going to for 30 years) on their list of eligible Dentists. I promptly cancelled my policy with SafeGuard and enrolled in COBRA and renewed my policy with Delta Dental so I could continue going to the Dentist that knew my history and had taken good care of my dental needs in the past. In August 2009 my COBRA coverage will expire. What are my options when COBRA coverage ends in August 2009?

James L. Ethridge of CA 2:03PM March 31, 2009

Single Payer is not the answer! It sounds nice and simple, but the government can no more run our healthcare system then they can our VA hospitals or Education. Just look to England for why a single payer system doesn't work when your sick. When your healthy it's great because you don't pay anything (except your 45% tax rate), but if your sick - god help you. There was a British politician on the radio the other day that said "Don't do it" when asked about socialized medicine (which is what a single payer system is). He stated that they turn away women with breast cancer saying they can't help them, there are long wait lists for surgeries, and mandated treatment plans that you can not get around (for example if you have maculate degeneration you can not get treatment until you blind in one eye!). I will never ever support a single payer medical system!!

trosen of IL 11:56AM March 31, 2009