Contributor ⭐

COBRA Insurance via CIGNA Treated as Secondary

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
April 19, 2024
8 replies
4227 views

Hello, this is been an on going issues with me now for several months. I am over 65, not on Medicare, and I had insurance through my employer. When my work was discontinued, I signed up for COBRA to continue my existing insurance for the last 3 months of 2023. Even though the statement from COBRA and Cigna both state this is the same insurance I had when I was employed, Cigna is only paying as secondary and not covering me as the primary. They are saying that I am "eligible" for Medicare so they will only pay as the secondary even though they know I do not have Medicare. I only continued the insurance for 3 months to continue the year with same insurance until I signed up for Medicare in 2024. How can I get help with this because nowhere in any of the documents was it stated that the purchaced COBRA insurnace thru Cigna would be Secondary. I am being giving the run around by Cigna and no one is helping (not my previous employer nor COBRA). I am at the mercy is Cigna and they are not budging on this. Is there Legal Help with AARP or other resources?

This topic has been closed for replies.

L

LukeH533591Author

Contributor ⭐

Also, has anyone else encountered this? What was done?

GailL1

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

When (at what age) did you sign up for COBRA? If you were already 65 and eligible for Medicare then you should have signed up for Medicare instead of COBRA -

IT‘S ALWAYS SOMETHING . . . . .. . . . Roseanne Roseannadanna

L

LukeH533591Author

Contributor ⭐

I was 67 when I signed up for COBRA. The reason I was not on Medicare was because I was running out the remainder of that years insurance since I had already met the deductible? Also, I was seeing if I could find other employment before making the commitment to Medicare. No where in the COBRA document I was given nor my questions with COBRA was it stated that the insurance I was purchasing was seconday. I feel that should have been communicated. If it was, I would not have chosen COBRA.

GailL1

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

@LukeH533591

COBRA does NOT work well with Medicare.

Medicare.gov- COBRA coverage

It sounds like you are already 65 years old and eligible for Medicare - If you were still working and had access to your employer GROUP coverage you could have signed up for Part A (premium free since most likely you have worked and paid into Medicare thru payroll deductions for long enough to get Part A premium free) and then delayed signing up for Part B and Part D until you lose your employer coverage (not COBRA).

Medicare.gov -How Medicare Works with Other Insurance

Medicare.gov - Medicare and Other Insurance - Your Guide To Who Pays First

You are gonna have to do what is best for you and your situation - cause that will depend on if you are going back to work soon and will you get employer Group coverage.

IT‘S ALWAYS SOMETHING . . . . .. . . . Roseanne Roseannadanna

L

LukeH533591Author

Contributor ⭐

I was 67 when I signed up for COBRA. The reason I was not on Medicare was because I was running out the remainder of that years insurance since I had already met the deductible? Also, I was seeing if I could find other employment before making the commitment to Medicare.

T

Tonster521

Community Champion ⭐

@LukeH533591 Take a look at your Summary Plan Description (SPD). If you do not have a SPD, contact your past employer to either obtain a SPD or the procedure for obtaining a SPD. The SPD will contain a Section or paragraph explaining how the Plan coordinates benefits with Medicare. FYI, most Plans carve out Medicare benefits if you are eligible for Medicare. Because you have already attained age 65 and stopped working or separated from service, you are eligible for Medicare benefits whether you applied for Medicare or not. Hope this helps.

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