What should we do about health insurance??

DH's health insurance will last only until May 31st from his job. Cobra is over $900 a month!!!!

We don't have jobs yet here in FL, but both have interviews lined up (we wanted to take a few weeks off but that's not looking like such a good idea now).

DH's cousin said that he heard we can call his ins. company and ask for an extension? Is that true?? What do we tell them and will it be just as expensive as cobra?

Anyone have experience with this? TIA!

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

well if you got jobs asap, when would the soonest be that you could sign up with their insurance? its usually 3 months, no?

i would just do the cobra until your new insurance kicks in.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

I could never be without insurance. I say take COBRA.

Also, I was told when I left my last job, that if I had a lapse in my insurance (menaing if I didnt take Cobra, and didnt start another job with insurance) if I got diagnosised with a pre-exsiting condition, it would not be covered if and when I did get new insurance.

These days, I rather be safe than sorry!!

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Some jobs have health ins. starting on your first day. I don't want to go without insurance, but wasn't expecting Cobra to be THAT much!

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Cobra is so expensive, but god forbid, its worth it.

Jess, I don't know of many jobs that start insurance asap. Most you have to wait the standard 3 months.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

I would definately take the COBRA for the time being. You don't want something to happen & then have a medical bill so much more then the $900 for the COBRA!

Definately agree with the above poster about the lapse in insurance. You don't want to get stuck in some dilemma that could have been avoided.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

cobra is a killer

when I left my first job- I did something not so great- but it worked

I didn't send a payment- but kept all the paperwork- so that if something happened- I would just send in the paperwork and pay- and luckily nothing happened

luckily my Mom was no longer alive to know I did this- she would have killed me

good luck with the job search!

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Message edited 5/24/2007 2:57:02 PM.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

When I got laid off a few years ago the cobra was very expensive. My mom helped me research and found that HIP was a much better temporary fix. It's not the greatest but it is coverage and it was less than half the price of cobra.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

With my new job I was covered right away....

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Big companies start you with ins. right away...$900 is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much to pay for Cobra! Why don't you look into some state funded programs like Family HealthPlus or something like that....

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

I actually never had a job where I had to wait to get health coverage. I also believe you have 30 days from the last day of coverage to sign up for Cobra and still be qualified. I would check that out, if you don't have jobs by the end of June then you can sign up for Cobra.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

does FL have any state ins. programs?
I am always so nervous to be without insurance but I can understand not wanting to pay the $ for COBRA.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Wow...I have been paying $1400/month for Cobra, but we have a family plan (me, DH and 2 kids).

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

I wouldn't take Cobra either. In less you have a medical condition that requires expensive prescriptions & possible complications.

Every company is different. When I was a recruiter I dealt with 100's of companies and it can be anywhere from 6 months to 1 day for eligibility.

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

I never been with a company where I had to wait 3 months for insurance coverage. It always went into effect starting the 1st day I started. I would get the COBRA for now & try to find a job asap!

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

I would take the COBRA but just because it is convenient and you don't have to shop around. Then just cancel it when your new jobs ins kicks in.

I honestly don't think $900 is bad though. We pay a lot more then that for a family plan through the union. And the union picks up most of it

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

Re: What should we do about health insurance??

first - i would never go without insurance with the cost of healthcare these days. the cost of a dr's visit and antibiotics alone (much less something more serious) would be astronomical but for insurance.

plus - my friend came really close to going w/o insurance - chose not to - and then started throwing up blood three days after she would have not had insurance if she had gone that route. she went to the er, had to stay in the hospital for two days, and have a number of tests done. she is fine - but if she hadnt had insurace she'd be in big troubel now financially. you just never know what could happen to take a chance.

as for an extension, i think i have heard of compaines doing that. unfortunately, in the case i am remembering i believe my friend made arrangement prior to leaving and all the paperwork was filled out so that technically she still looked like an employee thru that time. it's worth a shot though...

ETA - the extension i am talking about occurred through the previous employer - bc they indicated on their forms that the person was an employee thru "x" time - so that they were still covered under the company benefits. i've never heard of an insurance company granting an extension.

Message edited 5/24/2007 4:07:49 PM.