Cobra delay

Is there anything I can do about the delay with cobra kicking in? Our regular doctors are okay to bill again in a few weeks and I have paid specialist bills knowing I’ll get reimbursed. But I have one child who is medically complicated and needs his monthly labs, which are really expensive, and my other child needs a non emergency mri from an athletic injury a few weeks ago that isn’t healing. I can’t afford to pay these out of pocket and get reimbursed. I can’t even schedule the MRI without paying 1500, which is only a small portion of the full cost of the procedure. I’ve already been paying for the orthopedic appointments and physical therapy and medication all month and I’ve gone through so much money so fast. The insurance is also showing a pre authorization is required so I’m worried if I go ahead and register as self pay so I can at least schedule the mri I won’t be reimbursed. Is there a way to get a pre authorization on the record anyway?

The tracking on the mailed payment shows it has arrived but the payment has not been cashed and I don’t know how long after that it takes to activate. I stupidly paid the next 2 months premium via cashier’s check not realizing this would be an issue, I could have just paid the first month but I didn’t know. I also don’t know how long it takes to get reimbursed once it’s active.

I asked about all of this multiple times so I could plan and just kept being told there wouldn’t be a lapse in coverage. Any suggestions or advice? I get I’ll have the money back long term but short term I’m screwed.