COBRA Question - pre-existing condition / coverage

[mcsangel2]

Yes.

Although I do not know what the new Obamacare rules mean and when they all go into effect.

[winemaker06]

You might want to do some googling to double-check me (and I will too), but pre-existing conditions are usually only an issue after a lapse in coverage of 60 days or more. If you pick up coverage within the 60 days, you'll be considered to have had continuous coverage.

Also, COBRA can be used retroactively. So you can pay out of pocket for the visit, but if anything crazy-expensive happens, you'll have it to fall back on.

[winemaker06]

Here's a link I found. www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html#.ULVVJFH_BKk

The law was passed in 1996, so ACA is not taken into account here.

[mrs.spunky]

You only have to worry about gaps of 63+ days.

[idahome]

BirdGirl is right on the retroactive nature of COBRA (yay for a long election period). The posters who said that it's only a per-existing condition is the gap is 63+ days is also right. Both points are standard for COBRA and not employer specific.