Has anything been said about being able to participate in the Retiree Medical Access Plan (RMAP)?
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how to continue cobra for 36 months
50+ years old and I think it is 10 years with the company. I am sure of the 50+ number, not sure on years of service. Might be 8.
Aren’t there age or service limits to ramp?
The advice from HR was stay on Cobra as long as you can. When you find a new job (assuming you are continuing your career), you of course drop Cobra. Then remember to enroll in RMAP within 60 days of dropping Cobra. Usually just take the vision package at $10 a month to keep it active should you find yourself between jobs again and need coverage.
I like having the option, as the exchange insurance prices are out of sight in my state. I write a check once a year for $100, send it in. Make sure you don't miss a payment, as once you lapse, you cannot resume RMAP. RMAP is not as generous as Cisco employee coverage, but it is better than the exchange products and pricing.
When you retire from Cisco, you have options for
coverage.
- Enroll in COBRA then RMAP
Continue Cisco medical, dental, and/or vision
benefits under COBRA for up to 18 months after you
leave Cisco. At any time during the 18 months, you
may end your COBRA coverage and enroll in RMAP
within 60 days of ending COBRA.
- Waive COBRA and enroll in RMAP
Waive COBRA coverage and enroll in RMAP for
medical, dental, and/or vision coverage within
60 days after your last day of work.
- Waive both COBRA and RMAP
If you waive coverage, you cannot enroll at a later time.
- The marketplace
You can explore other options on the marketplace
where you live, as long as you’re not Medicareeligible.
Medicare-eligible retirees may want to look
in to other Medicare Supplement plans. These plans
generally cover some services that Medicare Part A
or Part B does not cover.
If you do not enroll in any RMAP coverage (medical,
dental, or vision) during your eligibility period (within
60 days of retirement or COBRA termination), you
cannot enroll in RMAP in the future.
I was subject to the December 2018 LR and took Cobra and we are now on RMAP.
From Experience: UNLESS you live in a healthcare friendly state (such as Mass or Calif); which we do not, so for us there are NO good alternatives to RMAP!
I researched All other non-employer provided coverage and in our case Everything is a very restrictive, bureaucratic HMO, costs as much or More than RMAP and has higher total out of pocket costs with Fewer Benefits.
Given that healthcare Cost is the Elephant in the Room; one needs to carefully research options, alternatives; I really like the idea of selecting low cost vision or dental Just to keep the RMAP option open until one is Medicare eligible or re-employed. RMAP can be a lifesaver based on our experiences. As noted, you Cannot go back once you decline RMAP.
HTH.
Not sure this helps many people. If you are tight on cashflow while on Cobra you can pull the paid premium amounts from your HSA. I understand that this is not the optimum use of your HSA funds but it may help someone in a tight financial situation get over the hump. You can not do the same with the RMAP premiums.
@civ+16v6ExuZ
I will use COBRA for the balane of this year then probably switch to RMAP
I think you need to read the fine print on the RMAP program. You will need to opt in to RMAP within 60 days which is before the end of the year
I am on RMAP (for dental/vision) after the July 2019 layoffs.
Be aware that once you decline RMAP you can't later change your mind and get on RMAP.
If you are considering (early) retirement and will not have another job offering medical insurance
and are not yet old enough for Medicare, then you might want to consider enrolling in RMAP and
selecting the cheapest option of Vision coverage. That way, if later you want/need to, you could add the medical coverage option.
As another poster noted, for COBRA the deductibles do not reset, but they will for RMAP.
Good luck to everyone.
RMAP premiums are insane.
When I went thru this a couple of years ago, COBRA was a little cheaper than RMAP - so stayed on that as long as I could. Good luck!
Check out the benefits portal - the same place you originally selected your medical during open enrollment
Where can you find out information on RMAP, the CEC?
There is a great doc on the internal benefits page the reviews options. One thing I noticed if you go to COBRA you continue with your current deductible status for this year. If you go direct to RMAP you start fresh on the deductible. I will use COBRA for the balane of this year then probably switch to RMAP
Thank you!
RMAP is covered in the FAQ. You can go straight to RMAP if you want. The plans are different. COBRA continues your current plan, with RMAP you change plans. You can use the $$ for either option.