Once ESRD is diagnos...ed, a patient is provided 30 months to either have the group plan pay first or Medicare. Since COBRA is continuation of the group plan and there is a disability involved, the participant will be allowed 29 months (18+11) to be on the plan, where it pays first and Medicare pays second.

Once COBRA runs out or the group plan is no longer available, the remaining months during the coordination period...Medicare pays first.

The 2nd bad habit that kills your immunity: You ignore your friends. Researchers describe friendship as, quote: “Miracle-Gro for your immune system.” In fact, a recent study found that people who had six or more daily connections with friends were 4 times better at fighting colds and flu than those who had fewer friends. Experts say it’s because sociable people are less likely to feel stress, which many studies have linked to causing a weaker immune system.

Another bad habit: You bottle up your emotions. A new UCLA study found that widows are more likely to get sick during the first year after their spouse dies, than those who are married. The surprising reason? Because widows no longer have someone around to argue with! It turns out that when you have healthy, constructive arguments, it temporarily increases blood pressure in a way that’s similar to moderate exercise and that floods your immune system with more white blood cells. The key is to fight fair, and avoid using sarcasm, insults or put-downs, since those are associated with the negative emotions that cause unhealthy stress.

(source: John Tesh)