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COBRA insurance and pre-existing medical conditions?

I am changing jobs and the med insurance for my new job doesn't become effective for 90 days. I had planned to just go without insurance for that period, on the assumption that if I had a major problem I could retroactively pay for COBRA premiums (over $1000/mo...) and then be covered. My new insurance will cover pre-existing medical conditions, but only if there is no gap in insurance coverage. So, if I do not invoke the COBRA coverage during this 90 day period does this constitute a gap in coverage that would negate the pre-existing condition coverage? These are two completely different answers - can't anyone offer any clarification on this? The correct answer will save me considerable money. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. If a policy holder develops a major medical issue, the first task their insurer undertakes is to search for grounds to disallow coverage. If a policy holder has just a 1 day gap in coverage, then that is grounds to disallow payment for service on a pre-existing condition. Non-continuous coverage means a gap of any size.
2. Your gap has to be less than 63 days. If you do not invoke Cobra, then preexisting conditions can be excluded, as your gap will be over 63 days.
3. The best way to get clarification may be to contact the new insurance carrier or the new employer and see what their terms are. The reason the new company would cover without a gap is because you would show a COCC (certificate of credible coverage) and this would prove you have had ongoing insurance. The rule is no more than a 63 day lapse in coverage from one insurance to the next. Some insurance companies use your 'hire date' with the new company not the start date of the insurance for this. Example: Your old insurance ended 06/01 You started your new company 07/01 Your insurnace doesn't start till 10/01 You would only have a 30 day lapse. However, some insurance companies may use the start date of the insurance and not your time with the company. If this is the case, then if you don't elect COBRA during at least one of those three months, your new insurance company would not be waiving any part of the preexisting waiting period, and you would have to wait until that time is up for treatment of any preexisting condition. If that is the case, you may want to have COBRA for enough time to make sure you don't have more than a 63 day lapse in coverage.
4. healthplans.my-age.net - try this one. I have their health insurancs and as I know they can provide coverage with preexisting condition.