1-800-485-3785
CITIZENS INSURANCE SOLUTIONS - MORE THAN MEDICARE
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Insurance FAQ's
  • Contact
  • News
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Insurance FAQ's
  • Contact
  • News
Picture



​





Stay up to date on the latest news


Medicare and Cobra

6/23/2021

 

Medicare and Cobra 

Picture
​Cobra is temporary insurance that allows people to remain on their group health plan after leaving employment for up to 18 months.  It is the same health insurance as before except you pay 102% of the premium (including what the employer was contributing).  This can be the best option coverage-wise and even pricewise for some if under 65.
If you are 65 or older and you or your spouse is offered COBRA, YOU MUST GET Medicare to avoid any penalties. Medicare DOES NOT consider COBRA coverage as good or better than Medicare (“not creditable”).  What’s worse if you do NOT enroll in Medicare not only will you be penalized but COBRA will not pay your bills because they are secondary. 
When an insurance company is secondary that means that their contract and applicable laws dictate that they reduce their payment by the amount the first (primary) company would pay their share and that the second company pays only AFTER the first company. The Medicare Secondary Payer rules are complex. Much of the bill-shuffling takes place behind the scenes.
If you are 65 and over, you can apply for Medicare at ANY time (while covered by employer health insurance/group health insurance).  You also have up to 8 months to sign up for Medicare when your group coverage ends. The problem with signing up after coverage ends is that YOU WILL have a lapse in health insurance UNLESS you take Cobra.
Most HR personnel and the average person do not realize that COBRA is not as good as Medicare and that YOU should sign up for Medicare before you (or your spouse) leave your employer. Here is the bottom line: RETIREMENT AFTER 65 = SIGN UP for Medicare (whether you are taking COBRA, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, Tricare, VA, or your employer’s retirement plan).

Heather Majka, CPCU, CSSCS

​

what is chip link
11/11/2021 10:08:44 pm

I enjoyed reading the article above, it explains everything in detail, the article is very interesting and effective. Thank you and good luck with the upcoming articles.


Comments are closed.

    This section will not be visible in live published website. Below are your current settings:


    Current Number Of Columns are = 2

    Expand Posts Area =

    Gap/Space Between Posts = 12px

    Blog Post Style = card

    Use of custom card colors instead of default colors =

    Blog Post Card Background Color = current color

    Blog Post Card Shadow Color = current color

    Blog Post Card Border Color = current color

    Publish the website and visit your blog page to see the results

Follow us on our socials

Picture
Picture
Picture
Certified Medicare Insurance Planner logo
Picture
Picture
Picture
“We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”