Hi everyone,
I just discovered this website and have found the forum very insightful and decided to post in the hope that someone can offer any insight.
I live in Massaschusetts and was laid off in early February. The company covered my health care until the end of the month and then Cobra would start beginning of March.
Since I am collecting unemplyment, I applied at the end of February through the state medical security program to see about getting assistance with the Cobra premiums. (There are 2 options, either direct coverage or the state can reimburse up to 80% of the Cobra premium. I chose direct coverage and if I was not approved for that, then I would be for the 80%, so I figured to apply for direct.) I was informed that the process usually takes about 10 weeks. In the meantime I paid my Cobra premium for the months of March and April to be on the safe side. The payments are made direct to the company, not to a specific carrier.
I just received a letter from the state informing me that I was approved for the direct coverage plan retroactive to the beginning of March and that a small amount would be deducted weekly from my unemployment check, so it looks like I never should have made the Cobra premium payments to begin with, but since the process took so long, I didn't know how the state would decide.
My question is can I get reimbursed for the Cobra payments I made direct to the company? Do they have a legal right to keep my money? My unemployment check isn't that big and just this week, it was reduced by 13% due to federal government cutting back.
Thanks in advance.
I just discovered this website and have found the forum very insightful and decided to post in the hope that someone can offer any insight.
I live in Massaschusetts and was laid off in early February. The company covered my health care until the end of the month and then Cobra would start beginning of March.
Since I am collecting unemplyment, I applied at the end of February through the state medical security program to see about getting assistance with the Cobra premiums. (There are 2 options, either direct coverage or the state can reimburse up to 80% of the Cobra premium. I chose direct coverage and if I was not approved for that, then I would be for the 80%, so I figured to apply for direct.) I was informed that the process usually takes about 10 weeks. In the meantime I paid my Cobra premium for the months of March and April to be on the safe side. The payments are made direct to the company, not to a specific carrier.
I just received a letter from the state informing me that I was approved for the direct coverage plan retroactive to the beginning of March and that a small amount would be deducted weekly from my unemployment check, so it looks like I never should have made the Cobra premium payments to begin with, but since the process took so long, I didn't know how the state would decide.
My question is can I get reimbursed for the Cobra payments I made direct to the company? Do they have a legal right to keep my money? My unemployment check isn't that big and just this week, it was reduced by 13% due to federal government cutting back.
Thanks in advance.