BAS’ Cobra Control Services, LLC (CCS) strives to make the COBRA administration process easy for both administrators and COBRA continuants.
The following Frequently Asked Questions identify 26 COBRA questions that employees or former employees repeatedly ask BAS’ call center agents. Some questions address COBRA rules, and some address CCS’ administrative processes. The Q&As follow. While tailored to continuants, the following Q&As provide useful information about CCS’ COBRA administration processes.
Q-1. Who is Cobra Control Services, LLC?
A-1. Cobra Control Services, LLC is a third party COBRA billing and payment processor for the employer sponsoring the group health plan under which you lost coverage. CCS collects your premium payments for coverage and remits those payments to the employer/former employer.
Q-2. If I elect COBRA, am I enrolling in a Cobra Control Services plan?
A-2. No. CCS is a billing and payment processor for the employer sponsoring the group health plan under which you lost coverage. You are continuing coverage under that employer’s plan. CCS does not offer a health plan to COBRA continuants, and CCS does not make any decisions with respect to your coverage under COBRA. CCS collects your premium payments and remits them to the employer/former employer. All decisions with respect to eligibility for and benefits under COBRA are made by the employer sponsoring the group health plan.
Q-3. How do I elect COBRA coverage?
A-3. To elect coverage, you must complete the election form provided by CCS.
Q-4. May I fax my completed election form? What is your fax number?
A-4. Yes, you may fax your completed election form. The fax number is 1-888-265-2144.
Q-5. Is my health coverage effective as soon as I mail or fax the election form?
A-5. Not necessarily. In most cases, you must pay the required premium amounts for coverage, in a timely manner, in order for your health coverage to be reinstated.
Q-6. How long does it take for my coverage to be reactivated under COBRA?
A-6. Upon receipt of your proper payment, CCS will notify the appropriate parties to reinstate your coverage. The timing of the reactivation of your coverage depends on your plan and the insurance carrier. Most COBRA coverage is reactivated within 7 to 10 business days of CCS’ receipt of your proper payment. To verify if your coverage is active, please contact the insurance carrier (the number on the back of your insurance card) directly.
Q-7. To whom do I make my check payable?
A-7. Checks should be made payable to Cobra Control Services, LLC.
Q-8. Should I send my check by regular mail or certified mail?
A-8. All payments must be sent to CCS by REGULAR US MAIL. Please do not send your check certified or return receipt. The P.O. Box will NOT accept certified, registered or express mail, and if sent this way, your payment may not be considered timely.
Q-9. May I make a partial payment?
A-9. A partial payment does not guarantee coverage. Partial payments will be processed only for the purpose of maintaining necessary accounting data, with the anticipation that you will follow up with the balance due in a timely manner (by the end of the grace period for payment).
Q-10. When is payment due?
A-10. Payment is due on the first of the month for that month of coverage.
Q-11. Is there any grace period for payment?
A-11. Yes. Each month, there is a thirty (30) day grace period for payments to be postmarked.
Q-12. Do I have to include the coupon with my payment?
A-12. No, the coupon is not required, but please include your six-digit reference number on your check.
Q-13. What are my options for making my payments?
A-13. At this time, a check or money order are the only acceptable forms of payment.
Q-14. I received a letter saying that my COBRA coverage is terminated for non-payment. How can I get it reactivated?
A-14. The employer sponsoring the plan makes all determinations as to the reactivation of coverage. Please submit an appeal, in writing, which CCS will forward to the employer for review. Appeals may be sent by fax to 1-888-265-2144 or by email to service@cobracontrol.com.
Q-15. How long does it take to get a response to my appeal?
A-15. The response time depends on the employer. CCS will communicate the response to you promptly after it is received.
Q-16. Will I be getting new cards now that I am on COBRA?
A-16. This depends on your insurance carrier. Many times, you will continue to use the same card you used while on the group health plan as an active employee.
Q-17. Will CCS send me a bill each month?
A-17. No. After your completed election form is processed, CCS will send you monthly payment coupons. Please keep these coupons and send them with your monthly payments.
Q-18. What do I do if I run out of payment coupons or lose my payment coupons?
A-18. You do not need to include a payment coupon with your monthly payment, so long as you write your six-digit account number on your check. Please contact CCS at 1-888-887-6187 if you would like replacement coupons.
Q-19. How soon do I have to elect and make my payments for COBRA?
A-19. The expiration of your COBRA election period is listed on your Summary & Election Form (#10).
Q-20. I moved. Can you change my address over the phone?
A-20. All address changes must be made in writing. You may fax the information to 1-888-265-2144 or email it to service@cobracontrol.com.
Q-21. During the first month I was eligible for COBRA, I did not need to use the coverage. Can I start COBRA coverage at the beginning of the second month?
A-21. No. COBRA and state continuation laws require that coverage is continuous and that there is no lapse in coverage.
Q-22. My COBRA election period ended, but I now see that I need the coverage. May I elect COBRA now?
A-22. COBRA must be elected within the time period indicated on your Summary & Election Form (#10). If you missed this time period, you may appeal as described in Q/A-14, above.
Q-23. What are my options after my COBRA period ends?
A-23. You may be able to convert your coverage to an individual policy, if permitted by the terms of your coverage. If you are in an insured plan, call the carrier directly using the number on the back of your insurance card. Beginning January 2014, you may be eligible to purchase individual coverage through the Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace.
Q-24. I will be turning 65 next week and enrolling in Medicare. How do I keep my spouse on the plan?
A-24. Please send your request, in writing, to service@cobracontrol.com or fax it to 1-888-265-2144. Upon receipt and processing, CCS will send revised payment coupons to your spouse.
Q-25. Do I have to enroll in Medicare A or B if I am on COBRA?
A-25. There are specific rules regarding coordination of COBRA and Medicare. We suggest that you contact Medicare directly to discuss your Medicare/COBRA rights and responsibilities.
Q-26. Why did my rate increase?
A-26. CCS is a third party billing and payment vendor. CCS makes no decisions regarding premium amounts, copays, plans, benefits or rates. Rates are established by the insurance carrier and generally changed once per year. CCS will timely communicate the rate change to you after it receives the information from the plan sponsor.
