3 Costly COBRA Mistakes

Misunderstanding how COBRA works often costs families hundreds of dollars in premiums and tens of thousands of dollars in uncovered medical expenses.

COBRA is usually not cheaper than a comparable individual health insurance plan.  Many people assume that since their COBRA plan is offered to them from their former employer any other plan would be higher than their COBRA cost.  Health insurance plans that are less expensive are often available from the same company that provides your COBRA plan.  You may find that a Blue Cross’ individual or family plan is half the price of your Blue Cross COBRA plan. Insurance plans are offered direct to consumers from many quality carriers.  Consider one of these plans for a COBRA insurance replacement. It pays to shop around instead of assuming that your COBRA plan is the best option.

You don’t have to keep your COBRA plan for the full 18 months.  You can cancel your COBRA plan at the end of any given month.  The mandated Cobra length of coverage is imposed on the carrier, not the consumer.  You can change your coverage at any time.  There is no reason to pay for a less desirable COBRA plan for the full eighteen months if there are better options available to you.

You may not be able to get a good health plan if you develop a pre-existing condition while covered by your COBRA plan.  The people who get hurt the worst by making the wrong decision about COBRA are those who are healthy when they leave their employer, but develop a serious medical condition while covered by COBRA.  This can mean that when cobra coverage expires their protection ends.  This can wipe out the savings of a lifetime.

It makes sense to switch to a permanent solution to your health insurance problem sooner rather than later.  An individual or family health insurance plan can typically be kept in force until you reach 65 if you need it.  You also have the option of cancelling your policy at any time should you get a job with insurance coverage or a better deal from another company.

Accepting COBRA without looking at the options available from your local Blue Cross Blue Shield, or other quality companies available in your area, can be a costly mistake.  Be sure to shop around and compare the different options available to you.  Most consumers will find that an individual non-group health insurance plan offers better protection at a lower price.