Question:
Does Cobra Cover my surgery>?

I lost my job tonight. I have already had all of my appts with psych, nutrition, endo, the surgeon, etc.. and was just waiting for approval from my insurance company. I should not have had a problem and I know it was covered. Anyways, I need to get Cobra now and I want some good news from someone who has maybe gone through this. Will Cobra be the same exact insurance that I had with Cigna EPO? Will it still cover my surgery? I dont have my date scheduled yet, as I was waiting for approval. (but i know it was covered) HELP!??? please!!!!    — Summersect (posted on August 31, 2001)

August 31, 2001
Rebecca--I don't think you will have any problem with your coverage under COBRA covering your surgery if your coverage normally would have covered it. Just please keep on the ball and make sure that you get your COBRA notice from your employer in a timely fashion, and pay your premium as soon as possible. You don't want that to get screwed up. If you're late, you're late. No coverage. Otherwise, you'll still be covered under the same policy and entitled to the same benefits. COBRA is not the "policy", it is the law that allows you to continue your policy under your employer while you pay your portion of the premium. Do keep in mind that your employer can charge you a small administration fee for this, but that too is governed by the law. But believe me, any of this is better than self-pay!
   — Tracy L.

August 31, 2001
Rebecca, I had almost the exact same situation as you. I was already approved and was in the process of switching surgeons when my hubby lost his job (and the ins that came with it!). Since I was scheduled to be having surgery in just a couple weeks, I got pro active and called up the COBRA lady at my ins and asked her if they had his termination notice yet (they didn't, I had to wait a few days) I found out what day he was terminated and asked the lady to tell me what my portion would be to continue coverage thru the month and then sent it in, to her attention THAT same day so she would be sure to get it and post it ASAP so that when the Dr office and everythign started calling, there would be no showing of any kind of lapse, or "waiting to see if she will go on cobra" answer given to the providers. Otherwise, you have like 45 days to sign up for cobra after termination and so you're basically in limbo and actually showing as not covered until they receive the cobra extension paperwork and $$$$ from you for your premium. Make sense? So call up the ins, talk to the cobra rep and tell her what's going on and that you want to continue coverage ASAP, not 45 days from now, and ask her to tell u how much to send in and to whose attention it should go! I was on Cobra when i finally got my surgery, no change in coverage. Blessings,
   — ChristiMNB