the Price of Health Insurance from COBRA

I picked up COBRA insurance for one month following my leaving one job and before the insurance took effect on another because I needed to have surgery.

It was a horrible hassle. First, the company accepted all of the claims for my surgery. Then, they came back and argued that because I hadn't accepted another contract from them (travel nurse), I was not eligible for insurance after the day my contract ended unless I wanted to pick up COBRA. After a $5,000 surgery, I wanted to pick up COBRA. They accepted my claims - denied my claims - I had to refile after the COBRA became effective - and by the end of October, the insurance company had finally settled all but one of my claims. I couldn't believe ANY insurance company could be as inefficient as the one I dealt with. It was expensive - time-consuming - frustrating - and I never want to have to do it again.

1. Don't purchase COBRA unless you need to. You are legally entitled to wait 30-45 days before purchasing the insurance. If you are moving directly into a new job, you don't even have to purchase it unless you think that you are going to have a claim during that gap time.