Image: stevendepolo under CC 3.0
In order for your coverage to remain secure, it is essential to pay every single penny of your health insurance premium–literally.
A woman with cancer lost her job, but got COBRA to continue her group health insurance benefits. Last year’s stimulus package gave her a 35% subsidy to help cover the cost. However, her insurance company never sent her the reduced bill.
Therefore, she calculated the smaller amount herself and sent in the premium. Unfortunately, the insurer’s calculations didn’t agree: they said her payment should be one cent higher. As a result, they canceled her plan entirely for nonpayment! She was unable to send a check for $0.01 because she was in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy at the time.
The good news is that they eventually overturned their decision and reinstated her coverage.
Tags: cancer, cobra, cobra subsidy, group health insurance, health care, health insurance, health insurance premium, unemployed
