09-15-2009, 01:13 PM
Cobra and HIPAA are both laws governing health insurance continuation and portability. They can compliment each other but are two different items.
There are some common pitfalls with the most common being applying for an individual underwritten plan without letting the insurer know you are exercising your HIPAA rights.
Another is forgetting the 18 month coverage rule. Many people with under 18 month coverage may not realize they are not automatically covered under HIPAA for portability if they were not covered for 18 months with the last being in a group plan.
Of course the preexisting condition aspect has some very little known time periods. This is a problem because people may try to get in and have things done right before their coverage ends and they don’t realize that anything treated within the last 6 months can impact pre-existing exclusions.
Also Cobra is group plan to group plan.
So I would recommend that before plowing through this minefield, do as Wyatt said and call the State and ask them what is and isn't allowed, what is and isn’t covered by COBRA and HIPAA. Also as Devany said, these guaranteed issued plans are not priced like group or individual plans and can be expensive compare to what your paying now. If all else fails, do as Glen said, call your elected Sate or Federal representative.
There are some common pitfalls with the most common being applying for an individual underwritten plan without letting the insurer know you are exercising your HIPAA rights.
Another is forgetting the 18 month coverage rule. Many people with under 18 month coverage may not realize they are not automatically covered under HIPAA for portability if they were not covered for 18 months with the last being in a group plan.
Of course the preexisting condition aspect has some very little known time periods. This is a problem because people may try to get in and have things done right before their coverage ends and they don’t realize that anything treated within the last 6 months can impact pre-existing exclusions.
Also Cobra is group plan to group plan.
So I would recommend that before plowing through this minefield, do as Wyatt said and call the State and ask them what is and isn't allowed, what is and isn’t covered by COBRA and HIPAA. Also as Devany said, these guaranteed issued plans are not priced like group or individual plans and can be expensive compare to what your paying now. If all else fails, do as Glen said, call your elected Sate or Federal representative.