I’m trying to understand the deadlines and dates for COBRA and marketplace insurance.
Here’s what I know:
Your employer has up to 45 days after your last day of coverage to send you the COBRA paperwork.
If you’re signing up for MassHealth/HealthConnector, you need to do it by the 23rd of the month to get coverage starting on the 1st of the next month.
Once you choose a MassHealth marketplace plan, you can’t switch to COBRA later.
I’m worried I might have a gap in coverage. For example, if my insurance ends on August 31st and I don’t get the COBRA paperwork until September 15th, what should I do for September? I understand that if I pick a marketplace plan, I can’t switch to COBRA later when the paperwork arrives.
Is it possible to call your employer and ask them to speed up the paperwork process? Just because they have up to 45 days doesn’t mean they can’t submit it sooner, right? I’m not completely sure, but it’s worth asking.
A Qualifying Life Event (QLE), like changing jobs, gives you a special enrollment period.
If you’re on good terms with your old employer, it might be a good idea to ask them about this.
COBRA is the same health plan you had at work, but you pay the full cost plus a 2% fee.
Have you considered private insurance? If you’re under 65 and haven’t had major medical issues in the last 5 years, private policies are underwritten.
Your health, age, tobacco use, and location usually determine the premiums, which are often cheaper than ACA plans.
You can sign up for private insurance anytime, and it’s usually cheaper than ACA plans.
Both public and private healthcare have pros and cons, but if your employer offered a private plan, you could have taken it with you since they are portable.
If you qualify for MassHealth (Medicaid) and apply by September 10, there won’t be any gaps in coverage.
If you qualify for Health Connector plans (Marketplace), it’s too late to get coverage for September. You would need to sign up for an October plan, pay for both September and October, and then call Health Connector Customer Service to request backdating to September 1.
You can cancel MassHealth or Health Connector plans at any time. MassHealth plans end 14 days after cancellation, while Health Connector plans end on the last day of the month you last paid for.
Is it really possible to double pay and then call Health Connector Customer Service to backdate coverage to September 1? Have you tried this before? If that’s an option, it sounds like the best choice for me.
45 CMR 155.420(b)(iii) (iii) In the case of a qualified individual or enrollee eligible for a special enrollment period as described in paragraph (d)(4), (5), (9), (11), (12), or (13) of this section, the Exchange must ensure that coverage is effective on an appropriate date based on the circumstances of the special enrollment period.
COBRA extends your work health plan at full cost for up to 18 months. Marketplace plans offer new coverage options, but you must enroll by the 23rd for coverage starting the next month. Both have different rules and deadlines.
