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Ugh totally risky, but honestly if I had no other choice, I probably would.

Is there anyway your DH could negotiate in for his insurance to start on the date of hire?

@simplyfelicity: Ahh totally makes sense. Then yes, truthfully I would go without insurance for those 2 months. granted I would make sure that everyone tries to stay super healthy, take vitamins, totally avoid anyone and everyone sick!

Not if I could help it. We did cobra for a month last year when my husband switched jobs. We didn't have a choice because I was pregnant but damn, it's so f-ing expensive and if we had paid out of pocket for our medical expenses that month it would have been cheaper, so it still annoys me. That's said, I'm not comfortable risking something crazy happening and us being sent into a financial tailspin bc of huge medical expenses. I will add that growing up, my dad was self employed and we never had health insurance! Luckily nothing outside of normal medical expenses ever happened to any of us.

For 4k, would prob go without, get my visits in now if possible and really hope that nothing happens in 2 months.

We're in a similar spot right now. We all had insurance through my husband's employer, but he switched jobs in May. His new job will have amazing insurance for the family, but we aren't eligible until he has 3 months worth of hours. It makes me super nervous to be uninsured for 3 months, but we just can't afford the cost.

I don't know how that all works, but would you be able to just put your son on indurance and not yourselves to save money?

Can you sign up for a catastrophic coverage plan outside of your work? It might be less than the Cobra plan.

@oliviaoblivia: @simplyfelicity: Yes to this 60 day waiting period! My SIL told me about that too!! That's a great option. Just keep all of the paperwork, and if God forbid something big happens, you still have the option to pay for Cobra. I totally forgot about that!

@simplyfelicity: it's retroactive to the date you had a qualifying event (job loss). But it's probably smarter to pay out of pocket for the appointment you have between job loss and cobra payment day as that'll be cheaper than the monthly premiums.

@simplyfelicity: Will L need a blue form to start back daycare? Or will health insurance be back squared away by then?

I would risk it for myself and my husband, but it would make me so nervous for DS. I do think the 60 day waiver / ability to retract is a good option!

I was going to say the same as @oliviaoblivia. I did this when I left a job to go to law school -- I had a little over a month gap and would have been able to apply for COBRA retroactively if I had needed to. As for your son's appointment, my ped's office also won't schedule early but said it's very common to do it a bit late. So if you're comfortable with it, you could schedule his appointment for the fist day of your new coverage. Personally, I was fine with the gap when it was just me but probably wouldn't do it now with a LO unless it was unavoidable--but I definitely get the $$ aspect.

I once went something like 6 days without insurance and I was a nervous wreck! I don't think I could do 2 months, especially with a kid. That being said, if you have the option to sign up for COBRA, if needed, and it cover the previous 60 days retroactively, I'd be comfortable with that. Or getting super basic catastrophic coverage for the time period.

I just talked to my HR director about this because DH is looking for a new job so we'd be in the same situation, and she suggested just not having insurance for the gap month or two, and if something happens / we end up needing it to sing up for COBRA retroactively.

Yes to retroactive cobra. If that was an option, I wouldn't sign up for it unless I ended up needing it. But if it's not, I would definitely take the financial hit of paying for cobra. One car accident or broken leg without health insurance would be financially devastating.

Hi there, I've been lurking for awhile on these boards but created an account to reply to this. I work in employee benefits.

As others have said, COBRA regs allow 60 days to enroll in coverage from the date of qualifying event (loss of insurance) and then 45 days to make your first payment from date of enrollment. As long as you make the first payment within 45 days, coverage is retroactive back to date of qualifying event to prevent a gap in coverage.

God forbid something happens and you need care before you enroll but while still within 60 day enrollment window, you should go to doctor/ER. If they make you pay anything, you'll need to submit a claim or have provider resubmit claim once you enroll in COBRA and make first payment.

It's not ideal, however, COBRA is super expensive and since it's only a 2 month gap, you will at most only have 1/2 days where you are unprotected (depends on when 60 day COBRA enrollment ends in relation to when new coverage starts).

If I were you, I'd save the money but keep the COBRA paperwork in case you need to enroll. Lmk if you have any other questions.

Never. Pay the COBRA. God forbid someone got really sick or had an accident.

I didn't read all the responses, but what I had a similar thing and remember there was some sort of grace period for COBRA. So like you had a certain amount of time to sign up for it. If anything were to happen, you could sign up for COBRA at that point but otherwise skip it. Definitely look into it an don't take my word for it, but I'm pretty sure you can do something like that for such a short period of time.
And congrats on the new job!

I'll add to the chorus recommending the exchange. You'll qualify for a special enrollment period. Depending on your income, your child might be eligible for state coverage and you may get a subsidy for your coverage. It will almost certainly be cheaper than the cobra.