Question:
Insurance Dilemma - Advice Needed Please!
Hi and thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. I currently have CIGNA-HMO through my husbands employer and have been denied, I have already submitted my first appeal, now waiting...... My dilemma is this; my husband may be switching jobs very soon and I may be loosing my current insurance and not really sure what type if any the next position will offer. I'm wondering if someone can help me to understand how the insurance works if he leaves this company (with notice of course). Can we continue with CIGNA if we pay premiums or do we automatically go into cobra and how will this affect my appeal process or surgery in general? Can anyone please explain this to me or help to understand how it works. Thanks in advance for any advice I may receive... God Bless, Vikki — Vikki L. (posted on July 23, 2003)
July 23, 2003
Your husband, and you since you are on his current insurance, will have the
opportunity to continue your same coverage with Cigna through COBRA. Your
husband's employer should give him all the information before he officially
separates from the job but if it looks like he won't have coverage with his
new employer, he should be proactive and get all the information asap. You
actually have 60 days after his separation from the job to decide you want
COBRA coverage but if there's a lapse, you could end up paying the full
cost of doctor's visits or other work you have done and then have to submit
for reimbursement once the COBRA coverage is official. So you would want
to avoid any gap if possible. That's not to say that you would be totally
responsible for any expenses, you just may have to pay for them out of
pocket until everything is finalized and then get reimbursed. The switch
could result in a delay with your appeal or surgery but the sooner you get
the COBRA paperwork processed, the less likely that would be. Just so you
understand, your coverage will still be with Cigna and COBRA is the federal
Act which allows you to continue with your coverage. So all of the
requirements that you've had for surgery remain the same. You won't be
dealing with a different insurance company. Also, your premiums will
likely be more expensive than what you're paying now through your husband's
employer, but much much less than having self-pay for surgery. Hope this
helps.
— antiques55
July 23, 2003
Vikki, Lori is right. Also, you can check out www.insure.com. They are a
great resource, also you can find insurance laws by state on that site. GL
— SweetDragonfly
July 23, 2003
This should help you understand COBRA and any pre existing clause added if
you choose to take on new insurance.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa1/default.asp
— RebeccaP
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