I’m really upset and need help. I’ve been paying for a COBRA plan since May—I’m a 59-year-old woman. I thought I paid for September, but when I went to pay for October on October 2, I found out my coverage had been canceled. They only allow a 30-day grace period, and since I missed September’s payment, I got dropped. I completely forgot since I was out of the country on vacation. I had one year left on my COBRA.
Is there any way to work with them to pay what I missed and reactivate my plan? Can the company I had insurance through help me? I’m working for them again, but only as a freelancer for a few weeks. Could they use their discretion to get the COBRA administrator to reinstate the policy? I’m willing to pay for the months I missed.
I’m really upset because:
I was getting a good rate for COBRA, cheaper than anything I can get through ACA.
I can’t get insurance until January 1. Open enrollment starts November 1, and coverage won’t begin until January 1.
The thought of going three months without insurance terrifies me.
Any thoughts, advice, or ideas would be greatly appreciated. The COBRA administrator is a company called COBRA Simple.
I did some research, like you did, and found the same thing. Once the 30-day window passes, you’re no longer eligible, and there’s no way to reverse it.
Since you lost coverage, you may still be able to sign up through the marketplace for coverage starting November 1. It depends on the exact date when your coverage ended.
The 30-day grace period to pay your COBRA bill is all you get. If you don’t pay within those 30 days, there’s no way to reinstate it. They can’t make an exception for you, as it would risk legal issues from others they’ve denied for the same reason.
Unfortunately, this is considered a “voluntary” loss of coverage since you didn’t use up the full 18 months of COBRA. This means you can’t get new insurance through healthcare.gov until January 1, as voluntary loss isn’t a qualifying life event.
Your only option might be an off-market plan, but be careful—most exclude pre-existing conditions. I’m really sorry this happened, and I wish I had better news.
COBRA Simple handles the COBRA paperwork for your former employer. They will inform your old company if your coverage should be canceled. Usually, insurance rules are strict, and most employers don’t make exceptions to avoid legal issues. Losing insurance counts as a life event, so if it’s been less than 30 days, you should be able to enroll in a new plan through the marketplace.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to fix this. It’s very important to stay on top of your payments. Remember, they don’t want to offer COBRA—they only do it because the law requires it. If you miss a payment, they’re quick to drop you.
Until you can get new coverage on January 1, stay safe and avoid high-risk activities like skydiving or skiing. Good luck!