Cobra – worth the fight, or not ? Paperwork not recieved, coverage signed up for and needed for the days between insurance coverage fo days between former and current job .

Apologies for the long post. I'm not super Reddit saavy but find it a godsend this past year.

I'll start with the short versioon

TLDR/Facts:

Q = WWYD and what are the odds of getting Cobra proactivated for February?

2/3 -Last date of coverage under former employer

3/1 – First day covered under new employer

2/18 – Mailed Cobra paperwork requesting coverage from 2/4-2/29 ( did not get proof of delivery)

2/26 – Emailed copy of paperwork to former employer HR

2/22-2/24 – Former Insurance approved 3 pharmacy claims

2/27-2/28 – Former Insurance denied claim for night/day sleep study – reason given = no insurance

*I had prior authorization and confirmed ahead of time.

2/29 – Former Insurance approved and paid $773.35 on a pharmacy claim

I called Anthem to find out what was going on. They could not tell me why claims were approved the week before and day after the denied claim but said I wasn't covered.

I emailed my former employers HR dept and have not yet heard back

I talked to someone with HHS who said the deadline had passed but suggested I send a check and see if they cash it and retroactivate coverage.

Sleep Study costs per MyChart

Billed: $12,100

Insurance Pending: $5,483

(Insurance saving of $6,638.24)

Longer version below:

I recently swiched jobs with my last date of coverage at my former job being 2/3. Coverage through my current job started on 3/1. When I sent in my paper work (2/18) and then followed up with an email attaching a copy to HR at my prior job on 2/26. I stated I only wanted coverage until the end of the month and since it was prorated to let me know how much I needed to pay. My former deductible was $500, I expected Cobra to be about $900, and my new deductible was/is $1800. What it came down to is I had a sleep study scheduled after two years of trying to get it approved. I debated rescheduling it but it has been such a long and challenging time getting to this point. Side note I went with the same company (Anthem) and called to ask since it had been approved through one employer, would it also be approved under the plan with my new employer. They couldn't confirm it would.

A little bit health info if it matters. After a period of only needing 4.5-5.5 hours of sleep, waking up refreshed, driving one or more hours regularly to go on a beautifull hike, visit out of state family, or just explore a new place, something unexpected starting happening. I was losing time – I'd go to take a quick bath and discover I had been sitting in there for hours. I would sit down at my desk to finish up work in the evening, and then see the sun rising and I hadn't done any work, just sat there. I might be awake but kind of in a trance for a couple days or I'd struggle to get out of bed after 20 hours. Oh and I caught myself nodding off while driving.

Any and all advice appreciated.

*edited because I got too off topic

submitted by /u/Daydreamer-968
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