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so i think im in remission - insurance Q

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/15/2009 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
to start the pain is gone, bm's are becoming normal, and im putting on a little bit of weight too!!!!! im so happy. is this remission?

today i sign my lease to open the health food store! I even got the rights to my name state wide. as great as all of this is, there is one problem i have run into. INSURANCE. i loose it when i quit my job in a few days. from what i understand i will still be covered until the end of the month. is this true? i still need to get barium xray's and a cat scan. i talked to my GI and we moved everything before the first. also he was kind enough to wright me a few months of scripts in advance. almost like he cares, right. lol. he also mentioned that now i have a "previous condition" most insurance company's will put a 6 month - 1 year stipulation on my coverage. i was just diagnosed not even a month ago and for me not to have coverage for the only thing i go to the doctor for is ridiculous. is there a way around any of this. any tricks? ideas?

any info helps!!!!!
Posted 7/15/2009 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Well since you are still on Prednisone, I would not quite yet say you are in remission. When you stay well on just the Asacol, then you can say you are in remission. Right now, you are just in a medically induced remission.

Yes, you now fall into the pre existing condition because of your Crohns. Since you are losing your insurance you might want to get the Cobra insurance until you can maybe find another self employed medical insurance. But you may still have 6 months to 1 years restrictions. I personally do not know of any way to by pass this. I do wish you good luck with your new venture.

Hugs
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 7/15/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Some insurance companies give you credit for your preexisting condition ONLY if you haven't had a lapse in coverage. It sounds like you are still in the early stages of getting your disease under control, so it would be in your best interest to pay for COBRA through your previous employer. You should also look into coverage for when that cannot be continued...its not cheap, but at least you'll be able to continue treatment and meds!

Good luck with your new venture!
Posted 7/15/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
As OHIO said, pre-existing condition applies only with a lapse in coverage. You should get a certificate of creditable coverage from your current coverage (or from COBRA if you take that then terminate that). You would then provide the cert to your next carrier. Any time that you have applied to your prior insurance would then apply to the pre-ex condition of your new coverage.

Check with your current benefit plan book to verify that your coverage continues to the end of the month of termination. Although that is true in most instances, it is something that I would verify.

Consider COBRA. It may be an expense, but it is great for transitioning while waiting for another plan. I would never take the risk of having no coverage ever again in my lifetime.
Posted 7/15/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Most companies I know of make your insurance effective through the end of the month that you term in, but they don't always have to and I've seen ones where they don't do it that way, so you need to ask.  I agree with everyone else that it won't be a pre-existing condition unless you let your coverage lapse.  Take COBRA until you find other coverage.  By all means, do not let your coverage lapse if you can at all avoid it, as then you will be paying dearly for an crohn's related issues (or issues the insurance company may say are crohn's related) in the future. 

Posted 7/15/2009 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
When I switched insurance companies they made sure my insurance hadn't lapsed. I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork and get a certificate of coverage letter from my previous insurance company. I guess it would also depend on your new insurance. I agree with all the others, that purchasing the COBRA benefits is essential. i know it's expensive but well worth it in the long run. Good luck on your new business.

Elizabeth
Posted 7/15/2009 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
me and the "boss" are not going to be on good terms at all. do you know if he has to offer cobra? the bis is very small (only 2 employee's plus him)

thank you in advance!
Posted 7/15/2009 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I do believe that Cobra is required to be offered.
Posted 7/15/2009 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
found out only if there is 10 or more people employed. sucks. hope he don't flip too bad when i give him my 2 weeks...... wish me best of luck
Posted 7/19/2009 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
You can try to get insurance through you state. This can tide you over until you can afford another plan.

Your medications can be sent to you free by the companies which manufacture them.

Donnaeil
Posted 7/19/2009 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Every state is different but if you look to get new insurance as a corporation (your new business) and not as an individual you might have an easier time. I think that most states don't do underwriting for business policies. You will need to offer the insurance to all of the officers of the company but you don't need them to take it in order for you to get a policy.
Posted 7/20/2009 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Every major (and credible) insurance company I'm aware lists Crohn's as a "presumptive condition", which means if your coverage lapses they will deny you. Then more expensive high-risk pools (if you state offers it) or even more expensive group insurance are options, or medicaid/medicare if you're really poor.
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