COBRA and contract work

Here's the scenario:
You are getting health insurance via COBRA from a previous employer. You start a new contract position with another employer that does not offer health insurance for contractors (or it is really crappy and you have a real need for good coverage, i.e., on-going, critical medical treatments).

Question:
Can you continue paying into COBRA that came about from a previous employer when working for another?

It would be a disaster (medical and otherwise) if I lost health coverage.

Thanks!

I saw something on CNN about it, it can carry on for six months but you have to check what the plan offers and whether your former employer is okay with it? Something like that.

You should have gotten a very detailed information package with your enrolment forms. Each COBRA election can vary from employer to employer. In most cases that I’ve used or read about, the coverage can last up to 18 months, as long as you don’t have other insurance that does not contain a pre-existing condition clause. If your new employer does not have coverage, then you can continue for the whole duration and I believe that you can even apply for an extension depending on the rules for that employer and whether or not you’ve had another qualifying event. If the new employer offers insurance, but there is a pre-existing condition clause, then the COBRA can be kept in force until the pre-existing waiting period is over and full coverage is in effect. Check your COBRA paperwork and it will tell you all of this specific to your situation. Now, I’ve not read anything that suggests you MUST take the new coverage from the new employer, so I would check with your COBRA administrator about how all that works. Anything outside of their rules could be construed as insurance fraud, the I’ve been on it 2 times and I find the administrators to be very helpful and courteous.

Thank-you for the information -- much appreciated!