additional challenges

So have not been here for a while. Long story short. February 2016 lost my job due to down turn in oil prices. March surprised with prostate cancer. (3+4)
Thanks to this group survived the decition making process and innitial shock. Due to nature of my career and all other factors. Decided on RALP. Done july 2016. I thought of many problems I will have after a year. Erection. Continance etc.
Erections improving. No other problems. 5 PSA tests unditectable.

Never thought it would be the fact that getting a job will be the biggest problem. After recovered from RALP I start searching. First job secured July 2017. Courses for a week and then today after a week told. Sorry we unable to offer you a job due to the fact you cant get medical insurance. I work at sea and received a full marine medical. They even send me to a local oncoligist and urologist which gave me a all clear letter to work?

Someone even suggest that I need to lie on my next applications otherwise finding job will not be possible. Will have to consider this option I suppose, although I dont like it.

So just a post to all out there. Be aware of Discrimination due to cancer.

But all said and done. After my experience the past year I am still positive.

That's a major bum deal for you. There could be ramifications if you misrepresent your health status to a potential employer. I think I've read that you need to be cancer free for five years before being accepted for commercial health insurance but I thought Obamacare care included anybody with a pre-existing condition?

The ACA forbids such discrimination for all policies offered in the US since Jan 1, 2014. The only exception are policies purchased before March 23, 2010. It applies to all US insurance, whether you are a citizen or not. If the insurance is not through a US insurance company, it may be an exception. Green Card holders qualify for ACA coverage. Talk to your US Representative's office - they can usually help.

John, you are confused by a recent thread regarding individual life insurance. Individual life insurance is not part of the ACA and insurers can underwrite based on the situation.

For individual and group medical insurance you can not be turned down due to medical conditions. I agree with TA that this needs more investigation. That is a very lame reason to deny employment and may even run afoul of the ADA rules requiring employees to accommodate people with medical conditions.

Anytime you lose employment you are eligible to keep the employer sponsored coverage for up to 18 months under COBRA. No limitation or pre-existing conditions restrictions. It remains the same coverage and is usually preferable to individual coverage under the exchanges, particularly lower deductibles. You basically pay what the employer pays.

If the premium cost is an issue and you would be eligible for premium subsidies under the ACA then you can get individual coverage directly or through the applicable exchange. However if you have no or very little income, you will not get an exchange subsidized plan, rather you will be forced into Medicaid if you are in one of the states that extended the Medicaid coverage. If you are in a state that did not, you will find yourself in a coverage Catch 22.

While the individual premium may be lower due to the subsidy, the actual cost may be higher due to the very high deductibles. The overall costs (premiums, co-pays, deductibles, networks, etc.) have to be determined before making a decision. If you are forced into Medicaid, then you have the very restrictive aspects there to contend with.

Almost a 10, are you on your employer's COBRA plan? You have only 60 days from job termination to confirm coverage for COBRA coverage protection. If you go past the 60 days, you give up your COBRA protection. Remember, termination is usually not the last day at work, but the actual day you are no longer an employee. That is when the coverage clock begins ticking.