Mal ,'Shindig'
[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risque (and frisque), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.
Okay, hivemind time!
First: Is it a big problem if I have, say, a 20-day gap in my healthcare coverage? What I'm asking is, should I go ahead and get the expensive COBRA because it will be retroactive, or is it okay if I just go ahead and get cheapie insurance for the rest of the summer?
Second: Anyone ever shipped stuff with Amtrak? How much does it cost?
You may not want a gap because then pre-existing conditions can come into play and they can not cover prescriptions for 18 months. You need to check what the coverage with your new employer is--you may be able to slide by and retroactively pay your COBRA only if you need to use it during those 20 days.
Is it a big problem if I have, say, a 20-day gap in my healthcare coverage?
Just ask yourself, "Do I feel lucky?"
There is no new employer. I hope there will be a new employer, but right now there isn't one. If there is one, it won't be until September.
To clarify: I'm not talking about a prospective gap here, I'm talking about the gap that I already have since the first of July. I'm going to get some health insurance, but it'll be much cheaper for it to be from here on out than for it to be COBRA, which is the only way I can see to cover that gap. The pre-existing condition thing is already a problem for that short a gap?
It depends on your insurance plan -- the last time I had a gap, it didn't count wrt pre-existing conditions because it was under 90 days.
The important question is "Is there broadband in hell?"
There must be. The Internet is the work of Satan, after all.
it didn't count wrt pre-existing conditions because it was under 90 days.
That would be cool. But there's no consistent rule about this?
COBRA can be applied retroactively for 60 days (might be 90) so if you get hit by a bus on day 59 you just back-pay and you're covered.