Laid off – previous employer signed me up for COBRA without any info provided OR my consent, and everyone is confused.
I was laid off by a company based in the EU in August. I never received a COBRA notification or the basic information from my company. They have no HR, have zero experience navigating US insurance , and are making things up as they go. I have been communicating with an operations lead.
I recently reached out asking for the details as my deadline to enact COBRA (within 60 days) was fast approaching. After many back and forth confused emails, they informed that I was already signed up for COBRA. I spoke with my insurer- and this somehow is in fact the case.
I am unsure or what language to use, or how to explain to my previous employer that what they have done is… I'm not sure illegal but definitely not in line with regulations (lack of notification, pricing).
They will not provide me with any information regarding the Administrator of the COBRA plan, the website, pricing, etc. which I need access to cancel the coverage I did not agree to. All of which they are required to provide within termination of coverage. I have NO idea who is paying for this, but it seems they enacted it the day after my coverage ended without me signing up for it.
I spoke to my insurance company, and they have no idea how this happened either, and they cannot themselves cancel it, my administrator has to do that…. who I have no access to.
My previous employer is well meaning but clearly lost here. Regardless I do not want to be on the hook for 3,000 dollars that I did not agree to pay for. Essentially, I am looking to make sure that what they did was in fact wrong (unless they are footing the bill, which I am unsure of).
What would be the best language to approach them and inform them that I did not sign myself up for COBRA, and will not in fact be paying for it and wish to cancel. I ask because I think a lot is getting lost in HR translation as neither side has the correct verbiage for what is happening here.
submitted by /u/OftConfuzzled
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