[JamesSwift]

In case you arent aware, you are able to enroll in COBRA retroactively. Meaning you dont need to be enrolled at the point that you need it. It makes sense to not enroll unless needed and save that expenditure, but keep in mind that I think you need to pay the previous premiums in the case you do elect to enroll (i.e. if you enroll in month 2 you need to also pay month 1 premium when you enroll).

[mellinoe]

This is true, but you do have to enroll by day 60 as far as I know. It’s also a royal pain to get hospitals to readjust billing if you retroactively purchase COBRA coverage after receiving care.

[JamesSwift]

Ive never actually used it so thats good to know.

[nsxwolf]

Another random fairly unknown thing about COBRA - it only exists as long as the group exists. If your company goes out of business and its group plan is dissolved, COBRA goes poof.

I learned this because it almost happened to me. I learned about it after a lot of phone calls to the insurance company piecing together this rarely talked about possibility.

[coredog64]

AIUI, the hack is to enroll immediately but not pay. If you don’t need it, you can (usually) get the COBRA provider to leave nonpayment off your credit report with a simple “You never sent me a bill”. If you do need it, well, you’re really going to need it because you’re going to have to pay the premiums plus whatever your co-insurance is.