HELP!!! I need Health Insurance

Then the Ads here in Michigan on TV from Blue Cross saying that they can "insure everyone no matter what" is a crock! Granted, it would not be a cheap adventure just like COBRA isn't.

You almost can't afford NOT to do COBRA for a bit until you find other Insurance. Once Insurance lapses more than 63 days then it is even harder to get insured unless it is through an Employer. Pentasa alone is a hefty sum out-of-pocket.

Can't say I can help any. I would check to see what your State might have available in Group/Pool Insurance. Some States offer it and others don't.

Finding that a lot of the individual Insurances offered out there are more Health Savings/Spending accounts. Would probably be Ok for healthier people, but not sure how helpful it would be for someone with a chronic illness.

Good Luck in your search! I hope you find something!

Definitely check with your state.  My infusion nurse told me that Texas (where I live) has a special state insurance plan for those with health problems that make it hard to get other insurance.  Her son is on it.  They don't advertise it, but it's there for those who know to ask.  She said it runs about $350 a month for him.  Expensive, but cheaper than the alternative. 

As long as your ex is still employed there are ways to stay on his insurance. This is not legal advice and I have not taken family law anyway... you should probably talk to a lawyer or a legal help hotline about this.

Are you having a contested or non-contested divorce? Basically, the court can order as part of alimony that your former husband maintain you on his insurance policy. His employer and insurance provider would have to comply. The same goes for children that need insurance, even if he is the non-custodial parent. If you have a non-contested divorce you are obviously still going to be dealing with a court. Just get in the terms of your agreement that he must keep you as a dependent on his employer's policy. If you want, you could still offer to pay the premium. This is a very common issue in divorces and any good divorce attorney (or clinic student) should be able to help you with this.

I hope you find your coverage, and remember all states are different so call every agency you can think of.  Blue Cross may not advertise the fine print in their gaurantee............which usually throws in a quesitonaire that reads, "Have you ever been to the physician's in the last 90 years?"

I wish you the best.
Kitt

hello, I am having the same problem and It seems like most states have a high risk pool wher eu can get insurance. Call ur states Dept of Insurance.

It is a law that you cannot be rejected for group health insurance if there is no lapse in coverage when you start your new policy. I'm not sure the name of the form you have to fill out but you need a "non-interruption, continuous coverage letter" from your previous (current) group carrier to give to the new insurance company. They can't deny you coverage for your Crohn's, just don't lapse in coverage before you start your new plan. Don't let them give you the runaround...

Jenny26- Unfortunately that is not true. Every state has different rules and regulations for insurance. In some states you can be denied coverage or coverage of certain things or be charged really high rates based on your age, sex and health. The rules regarding a lapse in coverage are different for every state also.

Jodi - you may be right but I am fairly certain that Jenny was referring to group coverage that one would get at a large employer or by being married to someone employed by a large company. Although each state can have its on restrictions, the federal COBRA law protects people with certificates of coverage who are moving to other GROUP plans. Group being the key word. You are still up the creek if you are self employed or work for a company that employs less than 50 people (I am guessing on the exact number.) But if your employer offers group insurance as a conditional benefit of employment you generally can not be denied for a pre-existing condition so long as you have been insured up to that date (or had only lapsed during the period in which one could have elected COBRA).

Thank you everyone! I am looking into all the ideas you have posted so far, and I will let you know what I find out. The HIPAA info. has been helpful, too. I have been too depressed to look for work for the past couple of months, but thanks to prozac, I am now feeling like I can "get back on the horse" and find a job, or maybe even some state sponsered coverage. I really appreciate you guys.

Ok, here are 2 options - pay for the COBRA on your credit card and make your soon to be ex pay for 1/2 of it until you get coverage as part of the divorce agreement OR since you are not currently employed, get your heiney down to the medicaid office ASAP!!!! There's no reason you can't get medicaid if you don't have a job. I know you are caught between a rock and a hard place, but you absolutely CANNOT have a lapse in coverage. It will make it so extremely difficult to get coverage later.

Thanks for the HIPAA link, it was really useful!  I had wondered how the "pre-existing condition" stuff worked and had worried that I would never be able to get insurance again from any employer if I ever had to change jobs.  It doesn't sound too fun to deal with but at least I know how the rules go for that

Now that I know what the deal is with switching insurance coverage if you change employers, does anyone know anything about the health insurance benefits for Starbucks or Home Depot?  I have seen them mentioned many times here so they must be pretty decent.  I was curious as to approximately how much the insurance costs per month and what the out-of-pocket expenses are like, (i.e. $150 a month, $100 prescription cap, $50k yearly benefit cap or whatever) I would be a great mental comfort to have financial estimates of my health expenses ahead of time for if I ever lose my day job or become able to only work part-time.