I just changed jobs this past week, and only just today learned that my health insurance at my new job kicks in '30 days after the first of the month after I begin', and not '30 days after I begin'. 

I am covered from my prior job for the rest of July, but my new insurance doesn't kick in until September 1st (apparently). 

So I will be uninsured for a month, assuming I'm not missing anything.


Is this a common thing? I didn't expect to need to worry about insurance. I only took 1 day between the two jobs, it's not like I took a month off.

I got a letter informing me of Cobra benefits, but this seems to be a long-term-between-jobs things. Also the cost is like 8 times what I was paying for health insurance.

I know little about insurance, I'm not sure what to do. Anyone know more about this?