We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.
Name: Concerned Dad
Email: cory@pictoriarecords.com
Comments: I sent in a check for my COBRA coverage. I called COBRA to
confirm that the check had arrived and was told over the phone that it
had arrived. I later received a letter saying payment had not yet been
received, and that I had to pay by the end of the grace period. The
letter said to disregard the notice if payment had been made. Because
I
had received phone confirmation that the payment had been received, and
because my first COBRA check took weeks to be deposited after my
application and check was confirmed received, I disregarded this
notice.
(Life lesson: NEVER DO THAT!) I just learned (seven days after the
expiration of the grace period) that the check was never deposited, and
that my COBRA coverage has been terminated. I called twice to discuss
it with them--they say they have no knowledge of the second check being
received or sent, no way of confirming that I really sent in a second
check, and that when I called to confirm the check's receipt, I could!
just as easily have been calling about the first check. So unless I
can somehow prove I sent the check, and they received it, my coverage
is
terminated.
They also stated several times that they were "legally obligated to
terminate my coverage" because they say I didn't send in my payment in
time. Is this true, or an exaggeration?
Is there anything I can do? Do I have legal grounds here? I have a
wife and a thirteen month old daughter with a slight heart abnormality.
The abnormality is deemed harmless by a heart specialist but scares off
individual insurance companies. I fear that I have allowed the most
precious 13-month-old girl in the world to me to be left without
protection, and that I have failed in my #1 responsibility--to take
care
of her.
Thanks,
Concerned Dad