COBRA Health Insurance

[GT1999]

My girlfriend is finding out about her shiftbid at her job today, and whatever way you cut it, it isn't going to be good. She will at best be working both weakend days. I have a M-F job, so it cuts down on the time we spend together. That's a tangent from why I am posting, however.

When I left my previous employer, I had COBRA health insurance for about a month -- and it cost a significant $450 or so. I remember when I started with that company back in 2007, COBRA with the same insurance was only about $330.

What changed?

How much would COBRA cost if you left your employer?

And any opinions on it -- reason I'm asking is because she might purposely get herself fired to collect unemployment so she doesn't get stuck with a graveyard shift. Her Director has already stated that the reason they're doing the shiftbid is to try to lose people, which is pretty sad that they can't lay people off the proper way.

This is for one of the nation's largest insurance companies. I'm afraid to divulge who in case if someone working for them reads this, but it's one of the TOP companies in the nation, and she's worked for them for 6 years.

 

[Jimzz]

COBRA depends on the plan and current rates. COBRA is just how much the insurance cost without the company payment part.

So YMMV on COBRA rates.

 

[sixone]

And any opinions on it -- reason I'm asking is because she might purposely get herself fired to collect unemployment so she doesn't get stuck with a graveyard shift. Her Director has already stated that the reason they're doing the shiftbid is to try to lose people, which is pretty sad that they can't lay people off the proper way.

Tell her to be VERY VERY CAREFUL about doing this. If they're not willing to lay people off, they may not be willing to pay unemployment benefits for someone who gets fired, either. If they can show it was gross misconduct on your GF's part - and the definition is pretty loose - they won't have to pay her a thing.

Getting fired won't look good on her resume, either.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Tell her to be VERY VERY CAREFUL about doing this. If they're not willing to lay people off, they may not be willing to pay unemployment benefits for someone who gets fired, either. If they can show it was gross misconduct on your GF's part - and the definition is pretty loose - they won't have to pay her a thing.

Getting fired won't look good on her resume, either.

This

Also, you never EVER walk away/leave a job (dumbest thing you can do).

Cobra is SUPER expensive and I'm not even sure why this sort of law is even in place (it's worthless).

 

[GT1999]

Noted on the getting fired thing. I just know graveyard would be really stressful for her.

I'm not really all that worried about money from her job, she doesn't really make much anyway unfortunately due to a re-org from a few months ago where they cut her pay in HALF (what kind of Sales position doesn't pay commission? That's just cruel...), I'm just worried about her health insurance. I make enough by myself to easily support the both of us and I may be able to get her a job within the next couple of months that is much better. She doesn't really have any debt.

 

[sixone]

Noted on the getting fired thing. I just know graveyard would be really stressful for her.

I'm not really all that worried about money from her job, she doesn't really make much anyway unfortunately due to a re-org from a few months ago where they cut her pay in HALF (what kind of Sales position doesn't pay commission? That's just cruel...), I'm just worried about her health insurance. I make enough by myself to easily support the both of us and I may be able to get her a job within the next couple of months that is much better. She doesn't really have any debt.

Then she should suck it up until she can find a better job. Working nights will leave her free during the day to get to the doctor, and make sure that she's done all she can to prevent any big issues from surprising her.

If she quits, her employer has thirty days to send her the COBRA paperwork, notifying her of all her options. Once she gets that paperwork, she has sixty days to pay for the coverage - if she wants it.

If she can find a new job AND get on their plan within that time period, COBRA may not be worth paying for.

 

[GT1999]

I just don't get it. The girl has a BA Degree with a 3.9 GPA, and two Master's Degrees with 3.8 GPAs -- yet I can get FIRED from my previous job for something bad, still get unemployment, and find something new in 2 weeks and start in 4-5 weeks after I'm fired -- yet she can't find anything.

We both have clear background checks obviously.

Something's wrong there.

 

[SheHateMe]

A BA and two Masters in what?

 

[TerryMathews]

This

Also, you never EVER walk away/leave a job (dumbest thing you can do).

Cobra is SUPER expensive and I'm not even sure why this sort of law is even in place (it's worthless).

Because it's far cheaper for people who couldn't otherwise get insurance. Think long-term chronic conditions, like AIDS, diabetes, or cancer.

 

[GT1999]

A BA and two Masters in what?

BA in English
Master's in Technology (I'd specify but I don't want to give out too much personal info)
Master's in Education

 

[SheHateMe]

BA in English
Master's in Technology (I'd specify but I don't want to give out too much personal info)
Master's in Education

And she works in sales....

Not trying to be an ass.


Why can't you specify what a Masters in "Technology" is? She can't get a teaching job somewhere?

With a Masters in Teaching she could get a job at a school. America needs more teachers. Not sure why you are saying she can't find work.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

This

Also, you never EVER walk away/leave a job (dumbest thing you can do).

Cobra is SUPER expensive and I'm not even sure why this sort of law is even in place (it's worthless).

As mentioned before, the cost of COBRA is the cost of the company's group policy without the company's subsidization. There is nothing inherently expensive about COBRA, the costs will depend on how expensive the plan/premiums are.

 

[GT1999]

She IS trying to get into Education. She's close to getting an Educator/Training position, but it's a couple months away most likely.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Because it's far cheaper for people who couldn't otherwise get insurance. Think long-term chronic conditions, like AIDS, diabetes, or cancer.

Every time I got my Cobra, I was able to find insurance on my own that was MUCH cheaper.

 

[yuchai]

Every time I got my Cobra, I was able to find insurance on my own that was MUCH cheaper.

Right, and you're able to do that because you're probably young and healthy. Some people have conditions that no insurance company would cover currently. For those folks COBRA may be their only choice until they find another job.

Of course, this all changes under Health Care Reform. In 2014 insurance companies have to take people in regardless of health condition. You could argue that it really becomes worthless once that happens.

 

[sixone]

Every time I got my Cobra, I was able to find insurance on my own that was MUCH cheaper.

I'd bet that was because you were healthy. COBRA is intended to be used by people who can't get coverage any other way, due to health problems.

 

[sixone]

Right, and you're able to do that because you're probably young and healthy. Some people have conditions that no insurance company would cover currently. For those folks COBRA may be their only choice until they find another job.

Of course, this all changes under Health Care Reform. In 2014 insurance companies have to take people in regardless of health condition. You could argue that it really becomes worthless once that happens.

When insurance companies have to take everyone, regardless of health condition, premiums will jump. Since there's no price break for being healthy, everyone will pay as though they are sick.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I'd bet that was because you were healthy. COBRA is intended to be used by people who can't get coverage any other way, due to health problems.

Nope, wife's health hasn't been great AT ALL. LONG LONG list....

Right, and you're able to do that because you're probably young and healthy. Some people have conditions that no insurance company would cover currently. For those folks COBRA may be their only choice until they find another job.

Of course, this all changes under Health Care Reform. In 2014 insurance companies have to take people in regardless of health condition. You could argue that it really becomes worthless once that happens.

Not at all. Not healthy at all and we also have 4 kids....

Also, the entire reform will not do ANYTHING. Insurance premiums will simply sky rocket ACROSS THE BOARD!!!

You don't really think that insurance companies will lose money.....do you?

Don't let these pesky Government attempts fool you!!! They are OWNED by these companies/paid off/bought LONG LONG ago.

 

[GT1999]

I should've never disagreed with vdub last year. 100% agree with his above post.

 

[crashtestdummy]

I just don't get it. The girl has a BA Degree with a 3.9 GPA, and two Master's Degrees with 3.8 GPAs -- yet I can get FIRED from my previous job for something bad, still get unemployment, and find something new in 2 weeks and start in 4-5 weeks after I'm fired -- yet she can't find anything.

We both have clear background checks obviously.

Something's wrong there.

There's a lot more that goes into whether you get hired than your educational background. The number of jobs you apply for, what field you're in, the particular economy for that field, how well you interview, whether you're someone people want to work with, how well connected you are to the company, just blind luck, etc.

She shouldn't get herself fired. If they're not hiring her as-is, they really won't want to hire her after she gets fired. Have her apply like crazy, and hopefully she'll be able to leave without unemployment.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I should've never disagreed with vdub last year. 100% agree with his above post.

Thanks

Be careful though, entire forum might hate you for such statement.

:biggrin:

 

[Gooberlx2]

Is she young and healthy? She could probably go buy her own emergency health insurance plan for like $100 - $150 per month.

Getting one's self purposefully fired is a bad idea. Get laid off or find another job first. Good thing about the 3rd shift is it leaves the entire day open to look and interview for jobs. As mentioned, she has 90 days to pick up COBRA after her last day of employment. If she can find a job within those 90 days, she'll be fine.

 

[yuchai]

Nope, wife's health hasn't been great AT ALL. LONG LONG list....




Not at all. Not healthy at all and we also have 4 kids....

Also, the entire reform will not do ANYTHING. Insurance premiums will simply sky rocket ACROSS THE BOARD!!!

You don't really think that insurance companies will lose money.....do you?

Don't let these pesky Government attempts fool you!!!

Well you're not sick enough that insurance companies simply won't cover you. That's great for you. But not everyone is like you and there are people with conditions that aren't covered by individual insurance. All I'm saying is that COBRA exists currently because of those people.

I tend to agree that insurance premiums will increase, because it's quite likely that more bad risk will enter the market under HCR versus healthy lives. But don't forget the federal subsidies that are available for people that are <400% of federal poverty. For those people, it's quite likely that they can get a good deal in the market come 2014 because their premiums are capped at a relatively low % of income.

By the way I'm less likely to be "fooled" by the government since I actually work in this field and know more about how everything works than most. There are a LOT of misconceptions about how health care works in the country and even more so when it comes to Health Care Reform. Most people are quite misinformed about how it works.

 

[soulcougher73]

Dont get COBRA. Just put away whatever money you would be paying to it in a savings account until she gets a new job. Pay out of pocket for anything that comes up.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Because it's far cheaper for people who couldn't otherwise get insurance. Think long-term chronic conditions, like AIDS, diabetes, or cancer.

And anyone generally not young and in perfect health. Be 45-50 years old with a blood pressure med, and your insurance rates will likely skyrocket past COBRA.