HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

just listed and just lost insurance

Support Forums
>
Hepatitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/12/2010 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all ... I know that I have neglected the Forum, and I apologize for my absence.

Frank was just listed today at NYU and I just lost my job and our insurance.

What doI do?

 

Posted 6/12/2010 4:49 AM (GMT 0)

Hi, there!  I'm so sorry to hear you lost your job and insurance.  I know it's expensive, but is there any way that you can continue coverage through COBRA while you try to obtain another job or other help for Frank?  Has he applied for SS Disability?  Since he is now listed, that should help his case.  Give us a few details.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 6/12/2010 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
Take advantage of the COBRA subsidy put into place by the current administration. This cuts the cost dramatically of COBRA coverage. Keep in mind you and Frank can elect coverage independently - So if the cost is a huge concern, you can elect for him only. Does Pennsylvania have a State plan for people who are really sick or poor? Check that out too - although typically you have to spend down your savings and assets. Keep in mind under current laws, in order to qualify for no "pre existing" clauses Frank will need to have continuous coverage and prove it with a "Certificate of Coverage". I am not an expert, but I don't think these provisions go away with health care reform right away. Connie is right, check into SS Disability too. Does your employer have a EAP (Employee Assistance Program)? If so, call them for options and support. Best of luck to you! So sorry about your job and insurance loss.
Posted 6/12/2010 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure about this 100% but im sure enough to just mention it. I believe in Sept. insurance companies will not be able to disqualifiy you for insurance because of pre exsisting conditions. That is according to the new health care reform obama signed. also the 1 million dollar cap is supposed to be gone then too. I remember reading this in papers that medicare sent me.
Posted 6/13/2010 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Lost, I know they are making it illegal to refuse anyone insurance or cut them off due to pre-existing conditions, but not sure just when this kicks in.
Posted 6/13/2010 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
The provisions around accepting everyone regardless of health status is not kicking in for a while. Health Care Reform is very confusing even for people who work with it every day. The first provisions to kick in are being able to cover dependents up to age 26 even if they are not "legal" dependents and lifting the life time limit clauses. When it goes into effect depends on the kind of plan - employer self-funded, individual, plan year date - some plans have until January 1, 2011.

Bottom line is I would make sure you do what you can to have coverage under the current landscape....
Posted 6/13/2010 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Cgr, Frank needs to not have a lapse in health care. I know Pa has some decent ways to go. My stepdad was going to move back to PA when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Try to even get state insurance, some states also have a plan to help pay for COBRA insurance if youre on unemployment. Also contact a social worker at your local hospital or the transplant center to help with forms. A social worker and the finance dept helped me with all Dougs applications and paperwork He had been uninsured and had pre exsisting medical issues but the loop hole was the loss of life with out medical care. Leave no stone un turned fast.
Sue
Posted 6/18/2010 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
I will still have income from my own investments, so COBRA should be affordable. We own several rental properties together, so I'll need to remove Frank's name from the deeds before we can apply for SSI.

Thanks for all the advice!

Posted 6/18/2010 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
And when you do apply for SSI don't mention that you took his name off... hint..
Posted 6/18/2010 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
yes ... certainly a case of "less is more'!

Do we know if there is a time limit after removing his name from the deeds?
Posted 6/18/2010 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Just FYI.....I don't know what state you are in, but for SSI, they count the spouse's income when determining his eligibility. Just wanted you to know that. So, if YOUR income is too high even while you are unemployed, it may put you over the income level for eligibility. I just say that to say to be careful what you show as income. As far as SSI goes....less is more!! I am on unemployment and just barely got us in under the mark.....crazy, I know. Just wanted you to be informed
Posted 6/18/2010 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
CGR are you and frank Married or life partners? If you are married you need to watch for state funded programs as they will want you to spend down any cash or investments that can be converted to cash and they will let you as the healthy spouse keep only a portion of this. You can keep your main residence I am not sure on income property. They used to make you spend down all assets but it was leaving a Healthy spouse penniless so those rules were changed. The state can go back three years and seven if they should so choose. The feds go back three years, so get some legal advice or even a good financial advisor you dont want to get caught in a legal mess on top of all this. I would strongely look into things before taking his name off Deeds or joint ventures, walk lightly through this and keep insurance going!
I hope I helped and didnt scare you more than you need be
Sue
Posted 6/19/2010 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi CGr, 

When we applied for SSI for my husband of course he was turned down the first time.  We appealed and they granted it.  He saw one back pay check of $200 and then nothing more.   When we finally got another appointment to find out what happened this is how they explained it to us.  There are 2 kinds of SSI.  One that is computed on his work history.  You have had to worked and paid into social security so many quarters out of the last 5 years.  My husband was 1 quarter short. ( Dummy me.......when he could no longer work .......I said don't worry babe I make enough to take care of us.) We didn't file until about 2-3 years after he could not work.  So what they had granted him was the "welfare side"  .  For 6 weeks the previous year I was on disability.....which qualified him for the $ 200.  My wages were too much for him to draw on the welfare side. So we never saw another dime.  The moral of the story.........as soon as someone becomes disabled they need to file. 

So I believe that if your husband worked and paid into social security enough quarters in the previous 5 years than he should be able to draw on his work history and your income should not be a factor.   

You may want to consult a lawyer about all this that specializes in disability cases.

Good luck.........thoughts and prayers........

    

Posted 6/19/2010 2:08 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you all for the responses.

Frank & I are not married, so that answers one of the legal questions. Also, he has not worked for the past 22 years as I have always been the source of income and he tended to the house and such.

Our primary home is only in my name, but our investment properties are in both.

We will definitely seek legal counsel before removing his name from the deeds and for assistance in SSI or welfare.

I spoke with my HR representative and once I receive the COBRA application, our insurance coverage will be seamless. I'm concerned about the cost, but I understand that Obama's plan provides for substatial assistance.

Thanks again for the advice!

Blessings,

Rob

Posted 6/19/2010 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Rob, I think you are wise to consult an attorney. Since you are not married, then they cannot count your income, but one thing SSI does look at is how many assetts he has. Keep pressing forward with SSI. IN the meantime, since you have the Cobra, that is a good thing! Hang in there!

Mer
Posted 6/19/2010 6:41 PM (GMT 0)

PG, they get you coming and going dont they. I also found out that if you collect disability till I think it was 62 you automatically switch over to retirement SS so if you didnt work at all the 5yrs prior your income on SS decreases alot from what you got on disability and changes your status to get state medical insurance unless medical deductables on medicare eat up a percentage of your cash income, many people get lost in this loop. You are considered with insurance if you get medicare so again a crack in the system. I know one man who will never work again because of three TP's, liver kidney and pancrease and he is now failing into this crack.....it was a tough road for them to get back his state insurance. You have to play the balance game with meds then do it with insurance.....

Sue

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply