Looking for some insurance advice.

Meghan

April 14,2022 at 1:04PM UTC

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Looking for some insurance advice. I'm leaving my current role on April 22, and my new role starts April 27. My new health insurance will kick in on May 1. However, I'm the insurance holder for my family (myself, spouse, and 2 teens).

I know COBRA is a thing, but I may not even get the paperwork until my next insurance already kicks in, and I'm very nervous about having 10 days or so without insurance due to chronic illnesses in the family. I've been trying to research if there is such a thing as short-term "gap" type insurance, but I'm super overwhelmed.

If anyone can point me in any direction or give guidance, I would surely appreciate it.

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AnonymousApril 14,2022 at 1:26PM UTC
Short Term insurance is a thing but it usually covers 30-120 days depending on need and the insurance company.
If you are able to financially, it may be smart to get a full 30 days even though you truly only need 10. If anything happened while the insurances over lapped you could always utilize both the new jobs and the short term insurance.
It also is very overwhelming because you have a lot of options on the open market but also not depending on how much you can afford. If you know who your new insurance company will be with the new employee you could look into short term insurance with them. They may not offer it but that is where I would start.
MeghanApril 14,2022 at 1:49PM UTC
Thank you!
M Elizabeth IngramApril 14,2022 at 1:38PM UTC
If you haven't already, confirm the date your current role's coverage ends. Is it April 22 or April 30?
If it is April 22, keep in mind that COBRA is retroactive to the day coverage is lost.
Good luck! And congrats on the new role!
MeghanApril 14,2022 at 1:50PM UTC
It is April 22, hence my mild panic LOL. So if heaven forbid something happens in that week, do I just use my current insurance as usual? Then when the COBRA info comes, pay that premium and it will apply retroactively?
M Elizabeth IngramApril 14,2022 at 6:12PM UTC
It could get a little messy depending on the timing, but it would apply retroactively once you paid the premium. There is a chance that you'll need to ask the insurance company to reprocess a claim after the COBRA is activated in their system.
AnonymousApril 14,2022 at 2:14PM UTC
Normally your current insurance will extend to the last day of the month you resign. I would check out the guidelines as you may be just fine.
MeghanApril 14,2022 at 5:16PM UTC
I did, and got the reply in writing that it would end April 22.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 15,2022 at 5:02AM UTC
I would check with your insurance company, not your company - I think you pay for a month. Are they going to re-imburse you for those 10 days if it does end on the 22?