Rant of the Day: Why is COBRA Paperwork so freaking complicated?
In a move that is very unlike me, I’ve been checking my actual snail mailbox every single day since I lost my job, and that is because I was anxiously anticipating the arrival of my COBRA paperwork. Boring, yes. A pain in the ass, yes. Glamorous mail? No. But necessary, especially since I got into a debacle with the front desk at my allergist, as they were initially unaccepting of my explanation that COBRA is retroactive to the date that coverage was terminated. Eventually I exercised my intellectual muscle and got what I wanted (but had to sign a form saying that I would pay if the insurance company didn’t).
But this is the problem, COBRA is too complicated for the average person. Even my doctor’s office can’t figure it out.
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconsolidation Act (COBRA, for short, and about as friendly as said reptile) is a throwback to the Reagan Era, and was passed in 1985. Although the act contains multiple other amendments to the federal laws, it is best known for its requirement that employers be denied tax deductions unless they meet certain continuing health care coverage requirements for their employees. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which offers a 65% subsidy to employers for 9 months following an employee’s termination if the employee’s termination fits into certain defined circumstances. The revision is undefined and unclear in many places, but has the net effect of reducing the premium for which the terminated employee is responsible for 9 months if the termination was voluntary.
Anyway, when I received my COBRA paperwork this Monday I ran upstairs and ripped open the envelope like it was Christmas morning, only to be instantly disappointed: 14 double sided pages, single spaced, courier 10 font. It instantly gave me a headache. My head was swimming. It was 11:00 pm and I didn’t have the patience to go through all of this information.
I looked at them again the next day with fresh eyes. The forms themselves are not complicated. Its a lot of check here, sign here, initial here nonsense. But what is complicated is figuring out which options to pick and what you are eligible for. Claim the wrong thing and you might owe taxes (which isn’t a horrible thing, but can be jarring if you are unprepared for it, especially when one is on limited resources to begin with). I consider myself to be an educated person, so I can’t imagine what it would be like trying to go through what is 14 single spaced, courier size 10, double sided pages of information attempting to decide whether to elect or not elect COBRA coverage, delay or not delay COBRA coverage, figure out if I’m an “Assistance Eligible Individual” or not. While now more than ever I appreciate the latest revisions to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconsolidation Act , the complexity of the paperwork makes it virtually impossible for even an educated person to maximize their benefits without assistance from tax, and human resources professionals.
The good news is my forms are completed and have been sent off. I can breathe a sigh of relief, I will have health insurance again. Thank Christ.
As I am a lawyer, and I know better than to give advice for things that I know absolutely nothing about, I have no tips besides common sense for navigating COBRA paperwork. Look at it when you’re not tired, read through the entire thing, try not to get overwhelmed. But, legally, I’m not stupid enough to try to advise you. But take a look at these links. If you’re in the situation where you have to fill out COBRA paperwork, and are confused, these could help, they helped me!
Helpful Links:
- Department of Labor – COBRA website
- www.cobrainsurance.com — Questions and Answers
- Navigating COBRA After the Passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
** The actual content of COBRA, i.e., the high cost of premiums after 9 months (or even during the 9 months since) is a subject for another post. Its in my opinion, simply a portion of the argument as to why we this country needs some form of Universal Healthcare.
Corporate War of the Week: Staples
Here’s really a two-fer for today. This is a rant of the day combined with what is to be my new weekly corporate war of the week series. When my mother was between jobs for three months when I was in High School, aside from making the best cheddar broccoli baked potatoes after track practice every day, she also periodically waged wars with corporate America. Call it being a social worker and working for justice for all, or just being bored, I don’t know. But, I’ve decided to follow in her footsteps.
Since I’ve been unemployed, I’ve had to spend a decent amount of time at Staples getting supplies I normally would have just used at the office (ex: I haven’t had a functioning printer cartridge since 2006). As you may or may not now, Staples’ slogan is “That was Easy”, suggesting that going to Staples is the easiest thing in the world. Just pop in, pop in, just like pushing that giant red button they have all over their ad campaigns. Well I am here to tell you that going to Staples (particularly the location on 51st Street and Lexington Avenue) is about as easy as a Carmelite nun.
So Staples, you are the recipient of my first corporate call-out of the week. I’ve pasted it below, and it speaks for itself. I sent this today, old school style via snail mail. If I get a reply I will post it, cross my heart!
Rant of the day: Post traumatic stress disorder and the divas at the Salvation Army
I think I have some sort of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from working at a law firm for the past three years, because despite the fact that I no longer have a blackberry, I could swear I hear something buzzing, beckoning me to stop what I’m doing in order to attend to some client’s needs. I hope this stops soon because it is ruining what is otherwise promising to be a great time.
In other news… for some reason I’m busier being unemployed for the last few days than I was when I was employed. Well — that’s not exactly true. I am busier being unemployed for the last few days than when I was employed over the last two months. And my days are actually spent getting my life in order.
My latest project is cleaning my tiny four room apartment which seems to have eaten half of the garbage dumps of Staten Island. This is the before shot of my living room, which sadly resembles (but now that I look at it again, looks worse than) the art installation done by the Roger Smith Galleries in midtown which is supposed to be a replica of an apartment after Hurricane Katrina:
The disaster zone.
Listen Mom. I don’t want to hear it. I spent the last three years living in my office space (as evidenced by the five boxes, yes FIVE boxes of stuff shipped to my house on Friday afternoon). I apparently didn’t have time to even supervise my cleaning lady. Who, by the way, is fired.
Anyway. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I’m doing a fullscale cleaning of the place. And as my mother’s daughter, everything that hasn’t been used in 6 months must go immediately. I’m surprised I haven’t mixed together bleach and ammonia like my mother did on Mother’s Day in 1996, thus sending myself to the hospital.
That leads me to my rant of the day. So obviously since I have been cleaning house (literally) I already have about six black garbage bags of just sheets and shoes to give away, and a color T.V. (just please don’t ask). So obviously I do the right thing and call the Salvation Army. Well, well, well. The DIVAS over there tell me that it will be at least June 26th until they can come and get the donations, and to add insult to injury, they won’t pick up anything that is on the fourth floor or higher. Since I live on the fourth floor of a walk-up, they tell me that I can either bring the items to the Salvation Army service center myself, or I can bring the items down to them on the third floor. They won’t even make the exception to walk the extra floor. Um, what?! Is this not a prime example of looking a gift horse in the mouth?! I have premium crap I want to give you and you’re just like, yeah, no, thorry.
Well, well, well, DIVAS. You missed out on some pretty sweet BCBG pumps, and a pretty awesome combination TV/VCR from 1999, let me just tell you. If anyone is looking for them they will be over at the Goodwill on the UES.
Check for updates on my apartment progress. Also, tomorrow I will be posting my first free/cheap/reasonably inexpensive recommendation! Stay tuned.
