Intel still hasn't figured out how to send out the Cobra bills due 12/01/16 for those that took the 6 months + $9K (pre-tax) for medical insurance.
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-ovt again here. Thanks to -5wap for your advice. I'm in a similar situation as you. I already applied for Medicaid and hopefully it will start on Jan 1, leaving Dec 31 without COBRA coverage. I agree that if a major medical event happens on that date I could be in deep trouble. Still have plenty of time to decide whether to pay for the Dec premium or not.
Sorry to read about this mess,typical of what intel has become a lost mess
ovt, be careful here. I agree that we are getting different stories depending on who you talk to, but I believe the 30 day period is in the COBRA regulations, and that is all Intel has to abide by. Any grace period beyond that is there own doing, so you have to take it at face value since it is not in writing. I did ask about what happens if it lapses and was told that you can apply for a waiver to be re-instated into COBRA, but there is no guarantee that you will get it. In my case, I am going on my spouse's plan on Jan 1st, so the only real risk is that one day in December where the COBRA coverage would lapse. You can always roll the dice and not pay that day, but you are taking a chance (albeit a small one) if a tragic medical event happens. Insurance is never a good "deal", so I just went ahead and paid it.
-ovt here. I was clearly told I was given extra 30 days to pay because they were late in sending out the bills. Looks the helpline is telling a different story now, wonder who was right ? Depending on who you talked to ?
I got my bill yesterday and paid online today. I had originally heard that the due date was in January, but when I called Benefits today, they indicated that it was actually Dec. 30th. I think the confusion is coming from the fact that while this is the first bill ISP'ers pay out of pocket, the additional grace period only applies to the initial COBRA payment that Intel subsidized. After that initial bill, all bills have only a 30 day grace period.
I got mine last saturday, The bill said that there was a 30 day grace period for the first payment. The amount almost game me a heart attach because it was configured when I was i Intel. I did lower my plan for 2017 so I expect the bill for January to be half of this one. But with Intel's track record I am not so sure.
I received my bill yesterday. I also called last Wed and was told that because they were late in sending out the bills, we are given extra 30 days to pay for it so the due date (including grace period) is now end of Jan 2017. Call (800) 238-0486 to confirm.
How many mistakes were made and still being made at the company, ain't a surprise at all!
It's run by idiots?
Legally there is supposed to be 45 days from receipt of the first Cobra bill to pay it. But waiting to see if that holds or if Intel shuts off everyone's insurance Dec 1st, leaving unemployed people having to pay out of pocket and try to get reimbursed later.
Time for everyone who still needs it to call Hewitt but even after several calls all they say is it was a 'hiccup' that the bills for Dec weren't auto generated for ex-employees. Also a mistake on the logon site shows the Cobra payments will be taken as a 'payroll deduction' ( for laid off ex-employees).
Why is this so hard for a company the size of Intel, starts to feel like more than an honest mistake?