Question:
Does anyone know if you can get secondary insurance & how you go about doing it?

I just ran into some bad luck & lost my job. This couldn't have come at a worse time. I am currently pre-op. I am in the process of getting insurance approval with my current insurance carrier which is Cigna PPO. They are one of the very few insurance companies that the Dr. that I want to have this surgery with covers it. He is in their network. I can get COBRA for the time being but have talked with my Drs. office & just found out it will be at least six months or more before I can even get a surgery date! I'm only able to have COBRA for six months. So, my question is can I get Cigna PPO insurance as my secondary insurance if my new job has insurance that doesn't have my Dr. in their network? To basically cover what my primary insurance wouldn't cover. Or can I use Cigna as my primary & just deny coverage with my new employer if I pay for it on my own. I think it would be worth doing this if I don't have to pay for the surgery out of my own pocket. If so, how do I go about doing that or who do I contact? I don't even know where to start!    — Allison T. (posted on January 23, 2002)

January 23, 2002
You should be able to carry Cobra for 18 months. It was my understanding that is the set amount of time. I had Cigna when I lost my job and I have Cobra and it is for the 18 months. Might want to check that out.
   — [Anonymous]

January 23, 2002
Federal law requires that COBRA be available to you for 18 months, not 6. The COBRA law requires that your former employer allow you to continue to be part of the group insurance plan you had before you lost your job. Xince this is the same plan you had when you were employed, the rules will be the same. Unfortunately, the law does NOT require that your former employer pay for it. Another part of the law is that if you get another job where you are covered for insurance, then COBRA is no longer in effect.
   — [Anonymous]

January 23, 2002
Oops, I forgot to mention. If, when you are laid off, you are covered by another policy (usually spouse's employer), then you are not eligible for COBRA.
   — [Anonymous]

January 24, 2002
Hi...I'm the poster. Thanks for all of your answers. I guess what I'm asking is if I do get a job before my surgery date & lose my current COBRA insurance will I be able to get secondary insurance through Cigna to pay by myself. So, I can be covered or maybe just carry this policy on my own & deny the insurance that my new employer may offer me? If I can, how would I go about doing that? Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear on that. The problem is I can't really afford to be unemployed for more than 6 motnhs. Thanks for your help!
   — Allison T.

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