We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.
Medicare Primary Cobra Secondary ?
: Hello my wife has been on Medicare 7 years due to a disability. During the 7 years, my wife was also covered by United Healthcare through Home Depot. United Healthcare was our primary coverage and Medicare was my wife's secondary coverage. I received notice from Home Depot on 3/28/08 that I was being let go after nearly 10 years of employment. The 2008 Home Depot Benefits Book, and the Home Depot COBRA Representative stated that "our medical coverage would remain exactly the same , should we choose to continue coverage through COBRA, however Dental and Vision would be optional". We wanted to verify what we were told previously with respect to this insurance coverage, but today the Home Depot COBRA Representative said that Medicare must be Primary, and that it may not be cost effective to be on COBRA. At this point, we are thoroughly confused. Would you please explain to us (1) Can both my spouse and myself be on COBRA?; (2) Which insurance company would be Primary and which would be Secondary?; (3)Is Primary and Secondary still determined by the total number of employees in all Home Depot stores?; (4)Since we elected our COBRA coverage on 4/3/2008, based on being told that our insurance coverage would be identical to the Group Plan, are we able to make changes at this point, and is there a deadline to make any changes?; and (5)With my wife being covered only by Medicare Part A and Part B, what percentage would claims be paid at between Medicare as Primary and United Healthcare as Secondary? If you have any written documentation that could answer any or all of the above questions, we would certainly appreciate receiving them, and of course, we also appreciate your internet help as well. Thank you. Robert Brian McCaslin and Carol L. McCaslin