{"id":194789,"date":"2015-07-08T04:00:26","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T11:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/?p=194789"},"modified":"2019-08-01T23:32:35","modified_gmt":"2019-08-02T06:32:35","slug":"how-to-cancel-cobra-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/how-to-cancel-cobra-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"How to cancel COBRA insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a recent article, I described what COBRA insurance is<\/a> and my experiences obtaining it. One of the biggest complaints I had about COBRA was the sign-up process. Signing up for COBRA insurance had to be initiated by my employer, and it was a paper process to boot. This meant there was a lag between when I signed up and when I received proof of insurance.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, after wading through the sign-up process, the rest of my experience with COBRA didn’t get any easier. A paper bill was mailed to me each month and I was supposed to send in my check. I couldn’t find cancellation instructions anywhere on the documentation I received, and it wasn’t possible to initiate the cancellation process online either.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Billing Mismatch was Just the Beginning<\/span><\/h2>\n

As I stated in my previous article, I needed COBRA only for the period between April 15 and May 1, when my insurance at my new employer was set to kick in.<\/p>\n

However, my state’s Department of Administration (DOA) bills by the month, so they took the first check I sent them and applied it to the second half of April; then they applied the rest to the first half of May. The first bill I received was for the remainder of May.<\/p>\n

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I know that somehow the DOA knew that I had insurance through my new job because they sent me a letter to that effect. However, the letter indicated that the State wouldn’t cancel my insurance; I was responsible for that.<\/p>\n

I called the number on my DOA invoice and, after a long hold, spoke to someone who gave me instructions for canceling.<\/p>\n

I had to draft a letter and mail it to the address on my COBRA bill, along with some enclosures. Here’s a copy of what I sent in case it is useful to other people.<\/p>\n

<\/span>My COBRA Cancellation Letter<\/span><\/h2>\n

To Whom It May Concern,<\/p>\n

I am writing in regard to COBRA benefits for account #xxx. Since I had health coverage through my new employer as of May 1, 2015, I would like to request the following:<\/p>\n