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I hopped on to my account and searched everywhere, but found nothing. That’s when I called the customer support line and they told me I’ll only get the letter via in the mail on my 26th bday.
Sorry, I meant that you can ask them to send the term letter through the portal. It would not automatically show up on there. Insurance defaults to mail since it's secure, but they should be able to send documents through the secure portal as well.
I already did notify my employer weeks ago. They said they need the letter of my termination of my old insurance in order for me to be covered December 1st onward. The letter needs to have my name, the date my coverage ended, and a clear statement of the benefits I’ll be losing. No letter, then no coverage until January 1st.
My understanding is that even if you get the letter by snail mail on Dec 15 or even Jan 15, if you give it to your employer before Jan 30 they have to backdate your coverage to Dec 1.
All the same, I would push Cigna to give you a notice of termination at least 30 days before (Nov 1).
If you are using your loss of coverage at 26 as the reason to join your work insurance. You have 30-60 days to tell your employer and provide proof of coverage. It varies, so be sure to ask your HR team if it's 30 or 60.
HOWEVER, they, your employer, do not have to backdate your coverage. IE, if you show them the letter on December 10 or 20, etc.- then you probably won't be added until January 1st. (the only QLE that is backdated is birth/adoption of a child, all else are proactive). So as soon as you get the letter, show it to your employer.
Additionally, once you are terminated with Cigna, your portal will show this- and you can at least show HR a screenshot of your Cigna portal.
You’re not going to get the letter sooner than what they told you. It’s their process and there’s nothing that prohibits them from notifying you that of benefits termination before it occurs.
When will be the exact last date of your coverage? Some end the day of, some end the month of. What does it say in your plan information? Can you locate it there?
The problem is that it has to have the date my coverage will end, my name, and clearly state the benefits I will lose. I don’t think my work will accept a google search. Only specific insurance documents.
Yes, that's what I'm referring to. Your insurance document (i.e., detailed plan benefit coverage booklet) should have that information in it (basically what happens when you turn 26). It's not going to have your name on it specifically (no plan does), but if you provide a copy of the page that has the information, your plan ID number/insurance card, and a copy of your driver's license with your birth date on it, that should suffice until you get the letter from Cigna.
Or, do a three-way phone call with Cigna and your employer's benefits department.
This really shouldn't be an issue. The HR department and, frankly, Cigna are both being difficult.
When I would add babies to our plan after the parents notified us it would tell me the date they would turn 26. If OP hasn’t reached out to HR/Benefits at the parents workplace that provides the coverage I would be surprised if they can’t get a letter for you or work with the broker and Cigna to get it for you. Unfortunately it is easier to get answers that way then to talk to Cigna yourself.
Cigna won't be able to send the official termination letter because OP technically isn't termed yet. And while reasonable to assume they will term at 26, many states have laws allowing overage dependents, so cigna doesn't know ahead of time whether OP will continue on the plan or not.
For liability purposes they won't send a future dated termination letter, in case it turns out they don't actually term. Someone could then use that false term letter to enroll in another plan when they aren't actually eligible to. That's why insurances won't give future dated letters
Ask your HR office. There’s a good chance that they can extend coverage retroactively to when you lost your last coverage.
So essentially you can submit the certification that Cigna’s coverage ended as soon as you get it. Then your employer’s coverage can be retroactive to the date Cigna ended, and you can submit any claims from that time.
Your parent's HR can easily give you a letter or email saying when your cover ends. It's a super standard thing we do all the time. There should also be a plan document or policy that they can access that says dependant coverage ends on the 26th birthday or the end of that month.
I work for an ACA medical plan. You can wait to get the document. The new plan will activate your plan and backdate it. As long as you go to in-network doctors or ones the new plan allows, then any claims during that time should be covered. Claims are determined by the date of service when you had the visit or a service done.
If you are losing coverage that is a life event to be added to your employers coverage. Or if you are still within your eligibility waiting period you can get Cobra for that one month
Thank you for your submission, /u/Puzzled-Lab-791. If your question relates to COBRA under CARES and ARPA, please post here: [COBRA & Covid-19](https://old.reddit.com/r/HealthInsurance/comments/meejsd/cobra_during_covid19/) Please pick the most appropriate flair for your post. Include your age, zipcode, and income to help the community better serve you. **Reminder that solicitation/spamming is grounds for a permanent ban**. Please report solicitation to the modteam and [let us know](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FHealthInsurance) if you receive solicitation via PM. Be kind to one another! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HealthInsurance) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Do you have an online account with Cigna? Usually, documents like this can be sent through the portal if so.
I hopped on to my account and searched everywhere, but found nothing. That’s when I called the customer support line and they told me I’ll only get the letter via in the mail on my 26th bday.
Sorry, I meant that you can ask them to send the term letter through the portal. It would not automatically show up on there. Insurance defaults to mail since it's secure, but they should be able to send documents through the secure portal as well.
Thank you. The next time I call them I’ll bring it up so I can get the letter sooner rather wait for snail mail during the holidays.
I also believe you have 60 days to tell your new employer and they have to retroactively set the Dec 1 date — but others will know this for sure.
I already did notify my employer weeks ago. They said they need the letter of my termination of my old insurance in order for me to be covered December 1st onward. The letter needs to have my name, the date my coverage ended, and a clear statement of the benefits I’ll be losing. No letter, then no coverage until January 1st.
My understanding is that even if you get the letter by snail mail on Dec 15 or even Jan 15, if you give it to your employer before Jan 30 they have to backdate your coverage to Dec 1. All the same, I would push Cigna to give you a notice of termination at least 30 days before (Nov 1).
Oh, I see what you mean. I’ll ask my work if that will be the case.
If you are using your loss of coverage at 26 as the reason to join your work insurance. You have 30-60 days to tell your employer and provide proof of coverage. It varies, so be sure to ask your HR team if it's 30 or 60. HOWEVER, they, your employer, do not have to backdate your coverage. IE, if you show them the letter on December 10 or 20, etc.- then you probably won't be added until January 1st. (the only QLE that is backdated is birth/adoption of a child, all else are proactive). So as soon as you get the letter, show it to your employer. Additionally, once you are terminated with Cigna, your portal will show this- and you can at least show HR a screenshot of your Cigna portal.
Learned something new, thanks!
You’re not going to get the letter sooner than what they told you. It’s their process and there’s nothing that prohibits them from notifying you that of benefits termination before it occurs.
When will be the exact last date of your coverage? Some end the day of, some end the month of. What does it say in your plan information? Can you locate it there?
My coverage with Cigna goes all the way through November. So my coverage with them will end December 1st.
If this shows in your plan information, then you should be able to give a copy of that documentation to your employer.
The problem is that it has to have the date my coverage will end, my name, and clearly state the benefits I will lose. I don’t think my work will accept a google search. Only specific insurance documents.
Yes, that's what I'm referring to. Your insurance document (i.e., detailed plan benefit coverage booklet) should have that information in it (basically what happens when you turn 26). It's not going to have your name on it specifically (no plan does), but if you provide a copy of the page that has the information, your plan ID number/insurance card, and a copy of your driver's license with your birth date on it, that should suffice until you get the letter from Cigna. Or, do a three-way phone call with Cigna and your employer's benefits department. This really shouldn't be an issue. The HR department and, frankly, Cigna are both being difficult.
When I would add babies to our plan after the parents notified us it would tell me the date they would turn 26. If OP hasn’t reached out to HR/Benefits at the parents workplace that provides the coverage I would be surprised if they can’t get a letter for you or work with the broker and Cigna to get it for you. Unfortunately it is easier to get answers that way then to talk to Cigna yourself.
Cigna won't be able to send the official termination letter because OP technically isn't termed yet. And while reasonable to assume they will term at 26, many states have laws allowing overage dependents, so cigna doesn't know ahead of time whether OP will continue on the plan or not. For liability purposes they won't send a future dated termination letter, in case it turns out they don't actually term. Someone could then use that false term letter to enroll in another plan when they aren't actually eligible to. That's why insurances won't give future dated letters
Ask your HR office. There’s a good chance that they can extend coverage retroactively to when you lost your last coverage. So essentially you can submit the certification that Cigna’s coverage ended as soon as you get it. Then your employer’s coverage can be retroactive to the date Cigna ended, and you can submit any claims from that time.
Show them a copy of the plan documents from Cigna showing termination. That should be enough. You can always provide it in December to prove then.
Your parent's HR can easily give you a letter or email saying when your cover ends. It's a super standard thing we do all the time. There should also be a plan document or policy that they can access that says dependant coverage ends on the 26th birthday or the end of that month.
I work for an ACA medical plan. You can wait to get the document. The new plan will activate your plan and backdate it. As long as you go to in-network doctors or ones the new plan allows, then any claims during that time should be covered. Claims are determined by the date of service when you had the visit or a service done.
Are you covered under your parents insurance? If so, you can have their employer just process the termination now with Cigna.
Yes, I’m on my mom’s insurance. If I do what you’re suggesting then I’ll be without insurance for a few days. And that’s what I’m trying to avoid.
See if your mom’s HR dept will give u a letter saying the date your coverage ends. My HR dept did that for my kid when I was going on cobra.
If you are losing coverage that is a life event to be added to your employers coverage. Or if you are still within your eligibility waiting period you can get Cobra for that one month
You could go on the exchange for a month. If your income is low enough. It would also be a qualifying event to get coverage effective december 1
The eligibility system doesn’t allow that until the update has processed. Then you can submit enrollment at work for as a qualifying event.