Author |
Message |
Taysmomcj
Member
03-24-2008
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 5:49 am
Hey Julie, the person I spoke to in our office about your situation passed the details on to our COBRA Specialist for more input. She got back to me this morning and stated that, if your husbands prior employer offers COBRA to it's employees, they are required to abide by ARRA whether or not they are church run. Being that they are run by a church they have the option not to offer it, but because they do, they are required to follow the federal law. She suggested that you contact either the employer itself or the plan administrator (the people at Benefit Administration Services) and ask for documentation backing up the claims that they are no longer required to offer you the lower premiums. Then based on what they tell you, you would want to contact the Department of Labor. I hope every thing works out for you!!
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 6:45 am
Thanks Tays. So let me get this right, because they did offer us COBRA for a month or two, they can't change it now? I know July was always the month that the employees could change their coverage (they offered different insurance options and there was one time a year they could switch things, ie add vision or change options). So I think that is why this is happening now (July). Thanks so much for taking the time to help!!
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Taysmomcj
Member
03-24-2008
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 6:50 am
Right, Julie. They can't all of the sudden stop offering you the lower premiums just becuase their plan changed. The only way that would happen is if they completely stopped offering COBRA to everyone. If they offer it, then ARRA applies. ETA, the ARRA allows you to receive the lower rates for 9 months. After that time has passed, you would have to pay the higher rates.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 7:06 am
Oh, so if they did stop the COBRA to all (which I think is the case) then we're still SOL, huh? Well we'll look into it for sure! Thanks again!!
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Taysmomcj
Member
03-24-2008
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 7:17 am
Unfortunately, yes. But you did mention above that you could keep the coverage, only for a much higher amount. The only way you could stay on their plan is to be on COBRA since your husband no longer works for them. There isn't a health insurance company out there that will let a company get away with covering people who are no longer their employees, unless they have the COBRA. I don't mind helping. Let me know how things work out or if I could answer any other questions. You are welcome!!
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 9:43 am
Julieboo, here's an article I posted back in April that lists some employers who offer full benefits for part time work (like Starbucks), in case you're interested: LINK
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 9:56 am
And here's an article about keeping health care coverage (the link to this is on the same page of the article I mentioned above): LINK
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 11:20 am
Babyruth, thanks very much!! ...off to those links!
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Csnog
Member
07-18-2002
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 3:14 pm
Julieboo, If you have children under the age of 18 you can apply for SCHIP.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 5:07 pm
Csnog, what is SCHIP? We have 2 little ones...
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 5:46 pm
Julie, here's a good page to start. Link
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Csnog
Member
07-18-2002
| Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 6:51 pm
I see you've been pointed in the right direction.
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