Changing jobs - What should I do?

[contagion]

Hi,
I'm changing jobs and thus insurance soon. I don't expect the gap between the two jobs to be more than a week. My new company says it takes 30 days for them to provide benefits. (not sure why, but I'm sure it is just a disclaimer). I've managed to get 2 months of meds from my current provider. I'm planning to order a generic verison of Atripla from one of the online pharmacies (any recommendations?) just as a backup. Do I need to do anything else? A friend told me I won't require Cobra.

[bocker3]

Well, you would only need COBRA if you have expenses that you can't afford to cover during your brief period without insurance.  I believe that you have 60 days to apply and that, once you pay for it, your coverage goes back to the day your employer provided insurance ended.  So....  you can "roll the dice" and assume you won't need any for the week or weeks that you will be without coverage.  If something does come up, well, you can apply for the COBRA coverage then.

Mike

[zach]

you seem to have your meds covered, but i would also be concerned about letting coverage lapse. you may want to clarify about the cobra, the scenario you describe basically says that for at least one week, you will not be insured. insurance companies love to use that type of thing against you. however, as rapidly as laws have been changing, i really don't know.

[contagion]

Thanks for the reply guys. Yes I'm concerned about not being covered by my new insurance company because I suddenly fall into the pre-exisitng condition clause.

[bocker3]

Thanks for the reply guys. Yes I'm concerned about not being covered by my new insurance company because I suddenly fall into the pre-exisitng condition clause.

Assuming that you've had insurance for at least a year and you do not go more than63 days uncovered, your new employer can NOT impose any pre- existing limitations on you.
You should ask your curreny employer / health insurer fora certificate of creditable coverage.  This will show you are not to be subject to pre- existing limitations ( assuming less than 63 days uncovered).

M

[OneTampa]

Assuming that you've had insurance for at least a year and you do not go more than63 days uncovered, your new employer can NOT impose any pre- existing limitations on you.
You should ask your curreny employer / health insurer fora certificate of creditable coverage.  This will show you are not to be subject to pre- existing limitations ( assuming less than 63 days uncovered).

M

I am in the same situation where I am now between permanent jobs.  My employer covered (paid) health insurance will go for another 5 months and then I will switch to COBRA if I don't have another permanent job by then.

Incidentially, I found this pre-existing condition health care insurance coverage information link that you may find interesting from my freelancing group: http://finder.healthcare.gov/

[contagion]

Assuming that you've had insurance for at least a year and you do not go more than63 days uncovered, your new employer can NOT impose any pre- existing limitations on you.
You should ask your curreny employer / health insurer fora certificate of creditable coverage.  This will show you are not to be subject to pre- existing limitations ( assuming less than 63 days uncovered).
M

Thanks @bocker4 I've read that too ...but no where does it state what happens when you have not been covered for a year? I will be shy of just 5-7 days of a year of continuous coverage. I think it makes sense to push my join date so that I complete the year.

@onetampa thanks for the link!

[bocker3]

Thanks @bocker4 I've read that too ...but no where does it state what happens when you have not been covered for a year? I will be shy of just 5-7 days of a year of continuous coverage. I think it makes sense to push my join date so that I complete the year.

@onetampa thanks for the link!

I thought, but could be wrong, they could only pose a pre-existing condition limitation for that time period that you are short.  Of course, if you just bite the bullet and pay for a month or two of COBRA coverage -- then you fill that small gap and are good!  Just remember to ask for that creditable coverage letter before you leave.
Additionally -- depending on your employer -- they may not even use pre-existing condition clauses.  I know that my employer does not.  All are different, and usually it is larger companies that simply forgo this, but it is possible.

Mike