A question about Insurance Coverage

[Piglet]

My DH's last day of work is tomorrow. He is starting a new job on Monday. The girls in his office said that we will no longer have insurance coverage as of midnight tomorrow night. Doesn't a company have to provide coverage until we are offered Cobra?? He has 1/2 of the cost of insurance taken out of his check every week, the company pays the other 1/2. Wouldn't they pay ahead????

Anyone know anything about this????

I work at a small family owned company (where my DH is starting on Monday) and we always pay the next months insurance on the 15th before (does that make sense?).

Melinda

 

[DonnaS]

I would call the insurance company directly. Before we got married and DH was covered as a student on his father's insurance-- he was insured until the end of the month that his father retired. His father retired on August 1 and he was insured through the end of August. We got married in August and he was eligible for my insurance on September 1.

 

[doxdogy]

If he works for a big company, I would find out the toll-free number for the benefits center. Most big companies do have outsourced companies that handle these inquiries for them.

 

[Kermit]

I'm pretty sure that COBRA will still be offered. It will actually be retroactive. When he gets the letter, he'll still have a certain number of days to get the check to them. If you need medical care in the meantime, you'll have to pay cash and be reimbursed. I'm no expert, but DH is a computer nerd, and he's been laid off several times.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I guess it's possible but for every company I have ever done benefits for - coverage is paid by the month and the money collected in the month prior pays the next month's bill.

So for instance, if he was paid twice in June, that money would then be used to pay for July insurance coverage. That is one reason why many companies don't start insurance coverage until the 31st day of employment -- it gives them a month to collect for that first bill.

So my question would be, if they aren't going to provide coverage for July, are you owed a refund of June withholding?

 

[Eeyore2U]

If the old brain works you have approx 114 days to elect COBRA. They have X to notify and you have X to apply. It will be retroactive. He should get a package from the company he leaves. I'm not the insurance can help you since the paperwork is from the employer.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

actually it's 30 days to elect, and another 30 days to pay for COBRA benefits.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
actually it's 30 days to elect, and another 30 days to pay for COBRA benefits.

This is off the US Dept Labor website.

What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage?

Employers must notify plan administrators of a qualifying event within 30 days after an employee's death, termination, reduced hours of employment or entitlement to Medicare.

A qualified beneficiary must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event within 60 days after divorce or legal separation or a child's ceasing to be covered as a dependent under plan rules.

Plan participants and beneficiaries generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred. The individual then has 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA continuation coverage. The person has 45 days after electing coverage to pay the initial premium.