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Q:  My insurance ends 1-31. I hear they have either 45 or 60 days to send me COBRA enrollment papers. I have to get a very expensive prescription each month.  Is there a way to enroll in Cobra before they get around to sending me the papers?  I can't pay cash for the prescription for a month or two while I wait for Cobra.  Is there a place to file online to make it quicker?  If so, can I do that before my employer sends my COBRA packet?  Finally, is there a way to have continuous coverage and not have it lapse from 1-31 until COBRA papers are sent to me, filled out, mailed, and processed? Thanks. (1 more: Do I get a new insurance card when Cobra takes effect?)

A:  By law, your past employer has 45 days to send you your Cobra packet in the mail, you can speak to them directly to see if they can get it to you any quicker, but they do have time to get it to you.  You most likely will be without Insurance from the 31^st until you receive that packet, fill it out and return it.  But when its returned and your Cobra becomes effective, it goes retro-actively back to the 31^st.  There is NO lapse in your coverage, so if anything happened to you in between the 31^st and then you would need to file those claims.  As far as getting new Insurance card, you may not receive new ones because it’s the same Insurance you had when you were working.  You would need to talk to your Insurance Company to see if they are going to supply you with new cards or you can use the old ones.