Temporary healthcare coverage suggestions?

[Omaha Cy]

Starting new job Monday and I'm already eligible for healthcare benefits October 1st. Win!

With a wife and son, I need a temp plan for basically a week just in case. In the past I've gotten temp coverage during a job change from Golden Rule. Which was basically non-existent coverage, but coverage I could at least provide proof of nonetheless.

Suggestions?

And total side note, my former company pulls the plug on your coverage at midnight on your last day. I've always been insured through the end of the month with other employers. Is that common for insurance coverage to end like that? I was surprised to learn that.

 

[CloneGuy8]

If you had it with your previous employer, look into COBRA. When I was off my parents insurance and didn't have it with my temp job, there was a super cheap insurance the state had. It was real ******, but covered me in the event of something major. Can't remember what it was called, unfortunately.

 

[GetAwesome]

I say save a week of premiums and quarantine for a week and don't let anyone in the family near sharp objects, high places, or snotty children.

 

[AuH2O]

If you had it with your previous employer, look into COBRA. When I was off my parents insurance and didn't have it with my temp job, there was a super cheap insurance the state had. It was real ******, but covered me in the event of something major. Can't remember what it was called, unfortunately.

Several years ago I had a month or so I had to cover for my family. I found a local agency and got a much better short term policy for a lot less money than COBRA.

I’m sure you can find something good on your own, but it took about an hour of my time to get it done with the local company. At that time I lived in Des Moines and used Middendorf for that.

 

[AgronAlum]

I had Golden Rule for three months because COBRA was outrageously expensive. I never had to use it I don’t think but it was there. It didn’t seem all that worse than what I’m on now IIRC.

I went through my independent insurance agent and that’s what they found for me.

 

[fcclone]

Starting new job Monday and I'm already eligible for healthcare benefits October 1st. Win!

With a wife and son, I need a temp plan for basically a week just in case. In the past I've gotten temp coverage during a job change from Golden Rule. Which was basically non-existent coverage, but coverage I could at least provide proof of nonetheless.

Suggestions?

And total side note, my former company pulls the plug on your coverage at midnight on your last day. I've always been insured through the end of the month with other employers. Is that common for insurance coverage to end like that? I was surprised to learn that.

If you have insurance with your current employer, they should offer you COBRA. You have 60 days to decide if you want/need it. If you don’t have any medical costs in that short week, you don’t have to pick up COBRA.

 

[dafarmer]

Get papers for COBRA, but you don’t have to file them yet. You have so many days to file them in case you need them. You have 60 days after you leave to file, and then after the new insurance kicks in worries are over.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

If you have insurance with your current employer, they should offer you COBRA. You have 60 days to decide if you want/need it. If you don’t have any medical costs in that short week, you don’t have to pick up COBRA.

This right here. Don't pay a premium for that week unless something happens.

 

[Rabbuk]

Get papers for COBRA, but you don’t have to file them yet. You have so many days to file them in case you need them. You have 60 days after you leave to file, and then after the new insurance kicks in worries are over.

This is exactly what I did. I unfortunately had to get stitches during that time so ended up paying my premiums, but even that was pretty painless.

 

[JM4CY]

1-855-51-bible

 

[CyCrazy]

Cobra is stupid expensive, but I had to have for a month because of Asthma. Its a racket.

 

[SCNCY]

I was told when I left my first job out of college the following about Cobra. You have a certain amount of time after you leave that you can sign up for it. Maybe 30 days. But the kicker here is that if you don't sign up, and say get hurt in day 10, sign up on day 29, and they will cover your expenses on day 10.

So, you may want to research this, but I would say don't sign up, and if you need your insurance during next week, sign up for cobra after the fact.

 

[fcclone]

Cobra is stupid expensive, but I had to have for a month because of Asthma. Its a racket.

COBRA is the cost of the insurance (employer portion and employee premium) plus a small administrative fee.

 

[twincyties]

Agree with points made above. I had a 4 calendar day gap between jobs last year. Wife and toddler to worry about.

Learned that you can sign of for Cobra retrospectively if anything happens so let it ride.

Of course, my daughter had an ER visit in that 4 day window. Only one ever because, you know, Murphy’s law

Fee was less than Cobra premiums so I just paid out of pocket. thankfully had money in an HSA, but was not worst case scenario.

Regardless, I would recommend you think about this option and, of course, make sure you know all the details. I thought irresponsible to have even a short gap, but learned about the retrospective thing and it ended up making most sense for my family.

 

[Jer]

COBRA is the cost of the insurance (employer portion and employee premium) plus a small administrative fee.

Yep, typically a 2% fee on top of the gross costs. It is expensive, but that's just because it doesn't have your company subsidizing it any longer.

 

[NoCreativity]

COBRA is a total joke. I got laid off from a job once, was making pennies from unemployment then they wanted to offer me COBRA which I had to pay for.

Yeah, I'm really going to be able afford it with my minimal unemployment money.

 

[CyCrazy]

COBRA is the cost of the insurance (employer portion and employee premium) plus a small administrative fee.

I agree but if I lapsed no one would pick me up with my condition.

 

[cowgirl836]

If you have insurance with your current employer, they should offer you COBRA. You have 60 days to decide if you want/need it. If you don’t have any medical costs in that short week, you don’t have to pick up COBRA.

What I was going to say. You should be able to retroactively apply if still in the time frame.

 

[brianhos]

Starting new job Monday and I'm already eligible for healthcare benefits October 1st. Win!

With a wife and son, I need a temp plan for basically a week just in case. In the past I've gotten temp coverage during a job change from Golden Rule. Which was basically non-existent coverage, but coverage I could at least provide proof of nonetheless.

Suggestions?

And total side note, my former company pulls the plug on your coverage at midnight on your last day. I've always been insured through the end of the month with other employers. Is that common for insurance coverage to end like that? I was surprised to learn that.

Check to see, but usually you have COBRA for 30 days from your last, or just ask for the paperwork and fill it out if you need it.

 

[cowgirl836]

Also, what did you pay for Healthcare premiums at your company? Did you get any of your contribution refunded if they cut you off?