COBRA and timing

[mickeyd]

Do you have to take the full 18 months of Cobra to have the "don't ask, don't tell" policy work? Can you purchase individual health insurance after the 6th month and have the policy work?

COBRA is a month-to-month deal that you can enroll in for up to 18 months (sometime 36 months). Once an ex employee obtains a replacement coverage (individual or group), COBRA must end for that individual as soon as the subsequent coverage begins.

Another way to job COBRA is to not pay the premium on the last month of coverage if you do not have any claims. Since you have a 30 day grace period, they can not terminate you until they know that you have not mailed your payment within the grace period.