Guest guest Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Helpful COBRA information and definitions can be found on this website: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm Below is the section pertaining to Medicare: The operative word in 1st sentence of the 2nd paragraph is “may” – a company can choose to continue to offer COBRA if beneficiary becomes entitled to Medicare benefits. And even if the company choose to drop the COBRA option for a beneficiary, the family of the beneficiary can still be covered by COBRA (but then they are paying the COBRA, the Medicare premiums, and premiums for a gap plan if they can find one) Attached are 2 documents from the NKF website (from 2007) which I find helpful. Also helpful is the NKF (National Kidney Foundation) publication Taking Control: Money Matters for People with Chronic Kidney Disease – available free (yes, multiple copies) from NKF. **************************************** From the US Department of Labor How long does COBRA coverage last? COBRA establishes required periods of coverage for continuation health benefits. A plan, however, may provide longer periods of coverage beyond those required by COBRA. COBRA beneficiaries generally are eligible for group coverage during a maximum of 18 months for qualifying events due to employment termination or reduction of hours of work. Certain qualifying events, or a second qualifying event during the initial period of coverage, may permit a beneficiary to receive a maximum of 36 months of coverage. Coverage begins on the date that coverage would otherwise have been lost by reason of a qualifying event and will end at the end of the maximum period. It may end earlier if: § Premiums are not paid on a timely basis § The employer ceases to maintain any group health plan § After the COBRA election, coverage is obtained with another employer group health plan that does not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to any pre-existing condition of such beneficiary. However, if other group health coverage is obtained prior to the COBRA election, COBRA coverage may not be discontinued, even if the other coverage continues after the COBRA election. § After the COBRA election, a beneficiary becomes entitled to Medicare benefits. However, if Medicare is obtained prior to COBRA election, COBRA coverage may not be discontinued, even if the other coverage continues after the COBRA election. Daryl Battin, LICSW Financial Coordinator/Social Worker Lahey Clinic Kidney Transplant 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805 Ph: /FAX: Page: From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Austria, Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 6:33 PM To: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Pancreas Tx after Kidney Tx Some employers allow their employee to continue to be covered by COBRA when they become eligible for Medicare. Also there are some plans that specifically mention on their employee benefit book, that should the employee becomes eligible for Medicare, then they are not eligible for COBRA coverage. Austria Specialty Contracting Methodist Health System 1441 North Beckley Avenue Dallas,Texas 75203 Phone: Fax: From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Phyllis Lang Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 3:44 PM To: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Pancreas Tx after Kidney Tx My understanding is: If patient has cobra and becomes Medicare eligible then they'll lose cobra. If patient had Medicare at the time of cobra election then cobra will continue. So if patient had Medicare at time of cobra election his insurance should be primary d/t being in the 30 month coordination period. From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Villalta, Lilly Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 4:29 PM To: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Pancreas Tx after Kidney Tx Yes, but pt did receive the kidney transplant within the coordination period. From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Phyllis Lang Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 1:27 PM To: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Pancreas Tx after Kidney Tx was the patient in his 30 month coordination period From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of Villalta, Lilly Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 4:24 PM To: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: RE: Pancreas Tx after Kidney Tx Hi Everyone... I have a pt who was awaiting a kidney/pancreas transplant... Received kidney transplant only and is now pending pancreas transplant alone. Pt had United Healthcare primary through employer and Medicare eff 4/1/08 due to ESRD secondary. United Healthcare is now COBRA. Pt received kidney transplant 5/1/08. Is Medicare primary? Thanks, Lilly Villalta Transplant Counselor Transplant Administration UCLA Medical Center Ofc 310/794.3494 Fax 310/794.8951 IMPORTANT WARNING: This email (and any attachments) is only intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality may subject you to federal and state penalties. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify us by return email, and delete this message from your computer. IMPORTANT WARNING: This email (and any attachments) is only intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality may subject you to federal and state penalties. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify us by return email, and delete this message from your computer. *********************************************************************** This electronic transmission contains information from Methodist Health System and should be considered confidential and privileged. The information contained in the above messages is intended only for the use of the individual(s) and entity(ies) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of this information is prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail. Methodist Health System, its subsidiaries and affiliates hereby claim all applicable privileges related to the transmission of this communication. See our web page at http://www.lahey.org for a full directory of Lahey sites, staff, services and career opportunities.THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED FOR THE USE OF THE PERSON TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED. IT MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If you are not the intended recipient, your use of this message for any purpose is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete the message and notify the sender so that we may correct our records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.