We are not COBRA. For specific contract details about your current company policy, contact your health plan administrator.
Hello,
With regard to Cobra coverage and the laws regarding notifications,
after an employee has been terminated, I have a few questions I wanted
to ask.
On approximately 1/9/04, I was terminated from JPMorgan Chase for what
they termed as a minor code of conduct violation.....very minor...and
more of a misunderstanding of training issue than anything else.
In any event, on the day I was terminated the Human Resource person
advised me that I would be receiving a package in the mail within 30
days advising me of when my insurance benefits would be expiring and
offering me the opportunity to elect to go on Cobra coverage.
Approximately 2/1/04 my insurance benefits ended and still I hadnt
received any notification of any sort regarding my termination of
benefits or documentation as to how I could enroll in the Cobra program.
It wasnt until I called their benefits office in mid March 2004, that I
was told that it was a glitch in their system that caused me to not
receive the paperwork and that they would send it out then....they did
send me a letter dated 3/22/04 offering me the Cobra coverage, which, if
I elected to take, would result in my having to pay the premiums for
Feb, March and April, since you have to always pay one month in advance.
Needless to say, this is an extremely high financial burden.
Can you tell me what my rights are regarding notification and the
ability to signup? I understand that I am supposed to have notice prior
to cancellation of existing coverage and the ability to signup and pay
one just the one months premium at the time my coverage ends.
Now they are asking for 4 months (or approximately $1600) for me to
enroll.....while I continue to pay directly for all my medical
bills....there must be some law to protect someone from this.
Any help you could provide would be emmensely appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Mark Barbella