If you have recently lost your employer group health insurance, you may be given the opportunity to participate in COBRA which will allow you to continue with the employer group plan. However, it will be at a cost of approximately 50% more than the premium you paid while employed. Rather than accepting a premium you may not be able to afford, you have the option to choose an Affordable Care Act plan and may even qualify for a subsidy which reduces your premium.
For example, there is a gentleman who lost his job in May and his COBRA was going to be $700/month. Due to his lost wages, he qualified for a subsidized Affordable Care Act plan with a monthly premium of $160 and added a supplemental plan with a monthly premium of $140 to cover his $8,000 deductible. His total monthly premium is $300/month for a savings of $400/month from his COBRA plan.
I can help you through the maze of health insurance choices. There is no cost for my services and my goal is to create a health insurance portfolio of services that fit your needs and budget. Contact me today.
Stroke Awareness Month – Women and Stroke Risk
1 in 5 women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer does, making it the fourth leading cause of death for women. May is stroke awareness month. Read more here…
Zoom-along through COVID-19
During this time of social distancing, I can help you with health insurance needs from ages 2 to 102 in a Zoom online appointment. You will be able to see exactly what you would if we were to meet in person. I can help you, or others you know, who are:
• Recently unemployed and want to save hundreds of dollars off COBRA premiums
• Starting a small business
• Going through any other life transitions
• Wanting to look at different options
I represent all the major health insurance carriers and together, we can create a comprehensive health insurance solution to fit your budget.
How To Be Resilient: 5 Secrets To Mental Toughness (Pandemic Edition)
Resilient is the word of the day! We will need to be resilient to come through this crisis better than when we went into it. Here are some excellent tips!
What do you do when you are underwater defusing a bomb and realize you can’t move your hands or feet? Read on….
COBRA
You were just laid off… options other than COBRA can save you money.
Most employers offer continuing insurance coverage where you can temporarily continue your health insurance coverage through a federal law known as COBRA.
Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA) two decades ago to give families an insurance safety net. Before then, people who lost health insurance at work often had trouble qualifying for coverage when they tried to buy it on their own. They would get turned down or face exorbitant premiums if they had pre-existing health conditions.
So what does that really mean? When your employer provides health insurance benefits, they typically pay 50% and you pay 50% of the monthly premium. If you choose COBRA, you will be paying the employer’s portion (50%) and your portion (50%) plus a 2% administrative fee.
Purchasing your own health insurance can save you money. Look at these examples where one spouse was laid off. (Neither of these couples qualify for an Affordable Care Act subsidy. Affordable Care Act Plan premiums would be very similar to COBRA.)
A family of four with a couple in their 40s and two children
- COBRA monthly premium is $1442
- Extended 36 month short term plan monthly premium of $738
A married couple in their mid 50s:
- COBRA monthly premium is $1701
- Extended 36 month short term plan monthly premium of $830
You have choices…contact me for a free comparison!
