Supposedly I'm an Independent Contractor. But I never signed a contract. [more inside]
posted by SoftSummerBreeze on Jul 18, 2009 - 17 answers

What are my options for insurance? [more inside]
posted by suncoursing on Jul 15, 2009 - 9 answers

Help! My COBRA health insurance ended recently for a sketchy reason and I don't know how to get any answers and I need health care. [more inside]
posted by xenophile on Jun 17, 2009 - 12 answers

I lost my job, got a new job, now I'm quiting that job, am I still eligible for COBRA from my previous job? And if I am, should I sign up for it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 20, 2009 - 2 answers

The company that administers my COBRA benefits terminated me because, they said, of an NSF check, which my bank had told me would clear. But it didn't because the check was put thru literally hours before a hold on a $500 check was released. Apparently the bank rep was figuring that either A) the bank would pay the check (they have before) or B) the hold release would happen before the check came thru. My cyber-statement even shows that the check was paid; then the next day it was sent back. (So when I checked my cyber-statement to confirm the info from the phone rep, the check was shown as having been pd.) Q 1) How and to whom do I appeal? Q 2) Is it worth the effort?
posted by Macbeth123 on Apr 5, 2009 - 4 answers

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act helps unemployed people with their COBRA payments in two ways: it subsidizes 65% of their payments, and because this lower price makes it affordable for many who couldn't before, it allows people who didn't elect for COBRA the first time a second chance to elect for coverage. I was laid off on October 24, and I did elect for coverage on January 28. But I haven't paid yet. The grace period for payment ends in a few days, on Saturday — it has to either be paid online or postmarked by then. If I were to not pay, would I be given the same second chance as those who didn't elect the first time around — the difference being that I would have elected, but not paid? It's a substantial financial difference for me. A little bit more inside. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Mar 11, 2009 - 3 answers

How will the COBRA subsidy in the stimulus package work? [more inside]
posted by lunasol on Feb 18, 2009 - 5 answers

COBRA (health) question: If I currently have health coverage through my employer for Employee(me) and Spouse, can I COBRA for Single only or do I have to keep it at Employee/Spouse? [more inside]
posted by mmangano on Aug 18, 2008 - 4 answers

Are some health insurance companies better than others? [more inside]
posted by mahamandarava on Jun 28, 2008 - 7 answers

My former employer is telling me to make my COBRA payments directly to them (the employer). That doesn't seem right to me. Is this common/legal/legitimate? Can I circumvent them and just pay the insurance company directly?
posted by bingo on Jun 2, 2008 - 19 answers

I missed a Cobra Payment and they terminated me. How can I appeal their decision? [more inside]
posted by TigerCrane on Apr 18, 2008 - 4 answers

My job is scheduled for termination at the end of the month. My wife is pregnant and could possibly be placed on bedrest about the same time. If I apply for FMLA before my termination date, would my employer have to honor my claim? My employer is unaware of the pregnancy AND I'm only speculating that bedrest could be ordered. [more inside]
posted by tickettrader on Mar 10, 2008 - 4 answers

I left my prior job in December and was hired by a temp agency. The agency offers an out-of-pocket health insurance plan. Does this mean I can't opt to continue my old coverage with COBRA instead? [more inside]
posted by ahimsa on Jan 14, 2008 - 5 answers

Hello battle-scarred health insurance vets. Here's a COBRA question for you to ponder. I left my job in early November. My application with the Freelancers' Union to be eligible to enroll in their plans has been approved. In the time between the former and the latter, I had to see my primary care physician and refill a bunch of prescriptions. There's still time for me to elect to have COBRA coverage for the time since I left my job, but should I? Would that lead to the dreaded "gap in coverage"? [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog on Dec 10, 2007 - 10 answers

I recently left my job at Yahoo! in Northern California and am relocating to Portland, Oregon to try my hand at self-employment. Extending my existing medical coverage with COBRA will cost me, my wife, and our three-year-old son $1200/month, which seems absolutely insane. Please help me understand the risks or consequences of waiving COBRA and getting new a new insurance plan. [more inside]
posted by waxpancake on Dec 1, 2007 - 23 answers

Can you buy travelers/vacation insurance for a domestic (within the US) trip? Is it dangerous to have traveler's insurance and not traditional health insurance for one month? [more inside]
posted by picklebird on Nov 14, 2007 - 12 answers

I'm about to be divorced with no insurance. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 21, 2006 - 16 answers

COBRAFilter: I'm quitting Thursday and moving out of state. Can I still use COBRA? [more inside]
posted by jimmy0x52 on Jul 24, 2006 - 10 answers

Tell me what I should be doing to fix-up my inherited 1994 Mustang Cobra. [more inside]
posted by matkline on Jul 10, 2006 - 4 answers

If the (small) company I work for goes bankrupt, am I still eligible for COBRA, or is COBRA predicated on the continued existence of the company? I live in California.
posted by Sinner on Jun 15, 2006 - 6 answers

Last minute COBRA coverage. A what-if scenario.. [more inside]
posted by jclovebrew on Mar 16, 2006 - 17 answers

I was laid off. COBRA is running out. How do I best acquire new health care coverage for my family when my wife is in much needed therapy and taking expensive medication? [more inside]
posted by jasonlatshaw on Nov 10, 2005 - 13 answers

COBRA/HIPAA: Help me understand how these health insurance laws might apply in several employer-leaving or life-changing events. [more inside]
posted by weston on Oct 27, 2005 - 7 answers

My COBRA runs out tomorrow. I've applied to a private carrier and was declined already. I was under the impression that if there wasn't a 63 day gap in coverage, they had to insure me. [mi] [more inside]
posted by pieoverdone on Jan 10, 2005 - 6 answers

Insurance continuation question: You are laid off of work and go onto COBRA insurance. You get hired for another job that comes with health coverage and start work on the 4th of the month. If you do not pay your COBRA payment for that month, do you have a lapse in coverage for 4 days? I have tried googling but the fact that the original company is a Delaware corporation which operates in California is confounding my ability to detangle the mess, especially as the deadline for COBRA payments for a given month is on the 5th of the month.
posted by hindmost on Dec 26, 2004 - 11 answers

I am in search of supplemental mental health insurance (in the US). Does such a thing exist? I'm a full-time grad student about to lose my awesome COBRA benefits from my past job. I'm going on to my husband's plan, which has crappy mental health coverage (only 20 therapist visits a year vs. 45 with my last insurance). I need weekly visits, but there's no way to change the plan. I've googled for supplemental health insurance, but I mostly get sites for those on Medicare. I've checked several major insurance companies, but none have any specifics about their mental health coverage. Has anyone else dealt with this situation? Perhaps someone who works in the insurance industry can point me in the right direction?
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2004 - 4 answers

Catastrophic health insurance (in the US): I've just been laid off and am losing health care benefits. The COBRA premiums are insane--I'm looking for something cheap that will cover near-death experiences. (I will turn to the bottle for any minor ailments.) Anyone have any advice or plan suggestions?
posted by mookieproof on Sep 30, 2004 - 16 answers

When my insurance (COBRA) ends in March, what can I do? Private insurance is prohibitively expensive, and chances are with my preexisting health problems I may not be able to get insurance at all. Worst part is my monthly prescriptions are extremely expensive-we are talking the price of a car payment here, if not more.
Any suggestions, besides moving to Canada?
posted by konolia on Dec 13, 2003 - 14 answers