Left a job and wondering about COBRA insurance in Florida? COBRA lets you keep your former employer's plan for a limited time, but you usually pay the full cost, so many people compare COBRA alternatives. One rule matters most: keep your COBRA until a new plan is approved and active.
COBRA lets you keep your former employer's health plan after you leave a job, usually for a limited time. For many people that time is often eighteen months, though the length can vary by situation. Your COBRA notice lists the dates that apply to you.
COBRA generally applies to employers above a certain size, and rules can differ by plan. Check your COBRA notice, or ask the plan administrator, for your exact rights.
Do not stop your COBRA payments just because you applied for something else. Keep your COBRA going until then. If you drop COBRA, you generally cannot get it back.
Private plans are medically underwritten, so a carrier can decline an applicant or exclude certain conditions. If you cancel COBRA first and the new application is not approved, you could end up with no plan at all.
You can compare options while your COBRA stays in place. Talking with us costs nothing.
While you worked, your employer usually paid part of the premium. With COBRA, you generally pay the full premium your employer used to share, and the plan administrator may add an administrative charge. Many people notice the difference when the first bill arrives.
On the other hand, COBRA keeps the plan you already know, including your doctors and network. That matters if you are in the middle of treatment. For some people it is worth it. For others, comparing options is reasonable.
You generally have sixty days to elect COBRA. The clock usually runs from the date of your COBRA notice or the date your job coverage ends, whichever is later. Check your COBRA notice for your exact deadline.
Electing COBRA is not the same as paying for it. Your notice explains the payment deadlines. Missing one can end your COBRA, so read it closely and keep a copy.
Use that time to learn your choices. If you want to compare a private plan, an advisor can walk you through it.
COBRA generally covers larger employers. Florida has a state continuation law for smaller employers. Ask your former employer or the insurance company about it, and act quickly: its deadlines can be shorter than COBRA's. The rules, length, and cost can also differ, so check any notice you receive.
If you are not sure which one applies to you, ask your former employer's benefits contact. We can explain private options, but your employer or the insurance company is the source for your continuation rights.
A private health plan is one option to compare. You choose it yourself, and you can apply any time of year, so you do not have to wait for open enrollment. Private plans are medically underwritten: the carrier asks health questions and can decline an applicant or exclude conditions. These plans can differ from open enrollment plans and may not cover every benefit. Ask what each plan covers and what it excludes.
That means private plans tend to fit people in reasonably good health, such as healthy individuals, families, and self-employed or 1099 workers who are leaving an employer. They are not for everyone. If you or a family member has ongoing health needs or treatment in progress, COBRA may fit better. Other options that do not look at health history may also be available. An advisor can talk it through with you.
Compare the deductible, copays, out-of-pocket limit, doctor network, and prescription coverage side by side, not just the monthly payment.
Line up the new plan's effective date before you stop COBRA payments. Ask for the effective date in writing, and confirm the plan is in effect.
Then confirm your last COBRA payment date, so you are not paying twice for the same days or leaving a gap. Check your COBRA notice for how and when to end coverage. Your advisor can help you line up the dates, but only you can end your COBRA.
Read your COBRA notice. Note your election deadline and your payment dates.
Talk with a licensed advisor. We walk you through private options and explain what the carrier may ask on the application.
Apply while your COBRA stays active. The carrier decides whether to approve you, so do not cancel anything yet.
End COBRA only after approval. Stop COBRA payments once your new plan is confirmed and the dates line up.
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You generally pay the full premium that your employer used to share, and the plan administrator may add an administrative charge. That is why the bill can feel much larger than what came out of your paycheck.
You generally have sixty days. The clock usually runs from the date of your COBRA notice or the date your coverage ends, whichever is later. Check your COBRA notice for your exact deadline. If your former employer is smaller, Florida's state continuation deadlines can be shorter than COBRA's, so ask your former employer or the insurance company right away.
Generally, no. That is why you should keep your COBRA until a new plan is approved and active. Private plans can decline applicants, so wait for the approval.
Florida has a state continuation law for smaller employers. Ask your former employer or the insurance company about it, and act quickly: its deadlines can be shorter than COBRA's. Rules, length, and cost can also differ, so check any notice you receive.
Yes. Private plans are medically underwritten, so the carrier looks at your health history. It may approve you, decline you, or exclude certain conditions. They tend to fit people in reasonably good health and are not right for everyone.
Only after the new plan has been accepted and is in effect. Line up the new plan's effective date first, then confirm your last COBRA payment date. Check your COBRA notice for how to end coverage.
No. Talking with a licensed advisor costs nothing, and you decide with no pressure. We work in English and Spanish.
No. We work with plans for people under 65 and we do not offer Medicare. For Medicare questions, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or Florida SHINE at 1-800-963-5337.