My COBRA insurance lapsed inevitability abet!?
I completely spaced on paying my Cobra and now they've sent me a memo terminating my insurance. Can I beseech them to re-instate it? I had cancer within late 2006, will this disqualify me from attaining a exotic policy somewhere else? give me sophisticated rates? I was singular paying $202 a mo. for Cobra health and will obligation sometthing around that. I"m 24 with suitable health history (prior to testicular cancer) Oh yea, Im also a USAF Veteran. Help! Thanks.
Answers:
If this is truely COBRA coverage (which is given to you pursuant to Federal law), later COBRA regulations DO permit reinstatement. According to the United States Department of Labor (which enforce COBRA): "If premiums are not paid by the first light of day of the period of coverage, the plan have the option to terminate coverage until payment is received and afterwards reinstate coverage retroactively to the beginning of the length of coverage."
I suggest you contact the USDOL by calling 1(866)444-3272. You'll be asked specific questions about the lapse which weren't given in your grill here; you'll then be told if you can reinstate and how to jump about doing it. If you can reinstate, you'll be charged impossible to tell apart premium you were formerly paying.
If COBRA doesn't apply and you're in fact being covered lower than your state's continuation laws (for example, if your former employer be too small to be subject to COBRA), then you should contact the insurance commissioner contained by the state where you worked and inquire whether the ruling clarifies if you can reinstate. You should ALSO contact the insurer and ask about reinstatement.
You must contact your agent or company for reinstatement. they will want to probably elevate your premium if they let you subsidise in the coverage. Most states own an insurance pool that is more expensive but you can carry coverage once you have be turned down for coverage. I am a USAF Veteran, also.
You can beg, but they won't reinstate it.
It's outstandingly unlikely you'll be able to bring a policy, with the recent cancer bit.
Your BEST shot, is calling USAA (www.usaa.com) to see what they can do for you. But I don't know if they do strength insurance.
Your SECOND best shot, is contacting a local agent, and seeing if THEY can get you placed somewhere, beside a cancer exclusion.