We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.
I previously worked for a school as a teacher's aide. I was given a letter at the end of the year stating that due to budget cuts I would not be rehired in the fall. Through direct debit on my paycheck I had paid for my health insurance coverage until the beginning of the next school year. I was not sure how long my coverage was to last for but I knew that it was for atleast a couple of months. I called my insurance co. who told me that I was still covered and that my previous employer should be getting in touch with me.In November of the following year I finally got a call from my previous employer's human resource department. They stated that they intended to hire me back but sent the letter to my former address. She said that because the beginning of the year was so hectic they did not realize that I had not been working for them. She oppologized for not sending me the proper forms to sign for cobra and assured me that I would be able to have cobra coverage for anytime that may have passed. After I sent back the signed letter and a small check just to let them know I did want coverage, I recieved a call from the treasurer of the town who accused me of leaving my position, and stated that I had to pay for the summer as well. I explained to him that he had the wrong information but he was quite rude and insistant on his story. However, he did say he would look into it. I did not hear back from the man, so I called him myself. He assured me that I was terminated due to the budget cut but he would only allow me the cobra up till the start of the new year. He said it was not his responsibility but MY responsibility to ask for the proper paperwork. I explained to him that I had been using the insurance and that I would like to have the coverage through December. He said he would not allow that to happen and that my coverage would be terminated after September. I really did not know who to turn to about this so I called the senator's office. They got in touch with the treasurer and he assured them that he would request coverage until January if I was to pay a small sum to make up the difference for the coverage at the end of September. I sent him the check he had requested and he sent me back a letter stating that my insurance has been cancelled following the month of September. When I got the cancellation letter from my insurance, it read the reason for terminating the insurance was because I LEFT the position. This man has lied to me, to my insurance co. and is costing me a great deal of money and grief. Is there anyone that someone can recommend I talk to. I even tried asking his secratary what the laws were reguarding the cobra notification, and he yelled to her to say that she was in an important meeting, that they did not have time to talk to me, that I was irresponsible, and for her to hang up the phone. If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate some feedback on this. I dont know who to turn to. I don't know too much about this. I have done some research but I can not find any specific time frames reguarding cobra notification and schools. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Thank you