hello i just found out that i am HIV+ june 17th 2003. I am currently working full time with insurance till august 1st 2003. At that time i will be going to technical school full time for 1 year to get my degree in computers. I have my first visit with my doctor the first week of july. hopefully my cd4 and viral counts will be good!! please pray for me! BUT my concern is that once i leave work on august 1st I will need cobra insurance. right? well say i get cobra for the year or so it takes to complete college and then get into the work force and on the employers insurance. then i can cancel the cobra. but what is this 63 day window? im confused. and what if i am denied insurance from my new job due to being HIV+ ? do i HAVE to keep my cobra forever? are there any other options for insurance? please help me with these questions. god bless

You will be eligible to continue COBRA coverage for up to 18 months as a result of losing coverage due to your termination of employment. You cannot continue COBRA beyond 18 months unless you are determined to be disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA coverage. Then you would be eligible to continue COBRA for 29 months. Assuming you get a new job and that job provides medical benefits, as long as you do not go more than 63 days without coverage, the new plan must recognize your prior period of coverage towards any pre-existing condition period. In addition, if your new job doesn't provide you with medical benefits, you could apply for an individual policy from an insurance company and as long as you did not go more than 63 days without coverage, the insurance company will have to offer you a plan (possibly a HIPAA plan) regardless of your health status.