CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE AND OVERSEAS GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE

IMPORTANCE OF SUBMITTING COIs WITH GROUP APPLICATION

When submitting a group application it is important to make every effort to have every employee also submit his COI. He can always get this from his former insurer. If he has been covered continuously for 18 months, his pre-existing conditions will immediately be covered on the new group insurance plan. If he fails to submit the COI upon enrollment, then he will have to wait 12-18 months before his pre-existing conditions will be covered on the group plan.

If he had only six months of health coverage before he came on to the present group plan, and can provide a COI, then he will only have to wait 6-12 months before his pre-existing conditions are covered. Again there cannot be a gap of more than 63 days from the final day of his prior insurance coverage to the effective date of the new group insurance.

We helped insure a group that had two employees with major medical problems within the first two months of the group’s coverage. Because they had been able to submit COIs, both employees were covered for their pre-existing conditions. Therefore, the organization was saved tens of thousands of dollars on medical costs.