Scared of losing insurance

UC DUDE, The following was taken from your link -

If you have a preexisting condition that can be excluded from your plan coverage, then there is a limit to the preexisting condition exclusion period that can be applied. HIPAA limits the preexisting condition exclusion period for most people to 12 months (18 months if you enroll late), although some plans may have a shorter time period or none at all. In addition, some people with a history of prior health coverage will be able to reduce the exclusion period even further using “creditable coverage.” Remember, a preexisting condition exclusion relates only to benefits for your (and your family’s) preexisting conditions. If you enroll, you will receive coverage for the plan’s other benefits during that time.

How long have you worked as a medical claims analyst?

That's outrageous-- and exploitative!!!!!!!!! When I was 1st diagnosed in 1980 & mentioned job situation to my then-gastro, she commented that with UC a patient should try to get into/remain in a large workforce insurance group. So there is your upcoming challenge-- plus dental coverage is generally hard to get no matter the age group, work or retirement situation in the U.S. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

I agree with Old Hat, A large work force ins is normally the best and cheapest. But for your immediate situation, I still say check with your other ins agents. Car ins agent, home ins agent. They both should offer "short term" plans to keep ya covered at a low cost. I know for a fact Grange Mutual offers it to their car ins customers. Also while checking with them ask them about purchasing individual ins or getting in with a group. Individual ins was the best way for me to go cost wise. I went with a higher deduct, but lower monthly payment. Was never a problem ubtil UC hit. But I also know alot of organizations around offer group ways to get into their plans and your agent should be knowledgable about some of these. Sam's club... AAA Auto club... Most organizations like these offer some sort of plan. Ya just have to find the best one and weigh it against purchasing your own. But short term plans are readily available. Most would only last 6 months and be a lot cheaper than cobra. Hey, its a few simple phone calls, and these agents already work for you in other ways. Make them earn their money. LOL.

Good luck and be sure to let us know how it all turns out.
We will get educated from your experience (unfortunately).
I hope you get a nice surprise with a decent insurance benefit being offered by the new company after all.

Hey Unclebubba and Sara

Just a note Unclebubba, it looks like you got your individual insurance before you got sick with UC, or at least before you were diagnosed. Is that right? I see you were diagnosed fairly recently. I was wondering from your other posts how you got insurance at all because it has been experience with a preX like UC they wont touch you with a ten foot pole in the individual market. Unclebubba - dont loose that insurance if I am right because I am thinking you will not get it back again with anyone else (unless it is a group plan) if you do. Anyhow, that is why the recommendation is get into a large labor pool - group insurance policies have to insure you even with preXs like UC (HIPPA regs) and of course with a larger labor pool the plans are usually better.

Dont stress too much Sara, on top of that usually being bad for colon, you will be OK if you just make sure you dont loose your coverage for longer than 63 days and/or look for alternatives to your new plan. That link I gave you for the high risk insurance....see if they have any programs for those that will have difficulty paying their premiums. I did look up the premiums in Iowa, you are right they are a bit steep. In New Mexico they have lower income premium reductions. Higher deductables are another way around it. High risk pools usually have pharmacy plans that are unrelated to your deductable and with UC it is often the meds that cost the most - more than the doc appointments. So you could pay the the doc with a higher deductable and get reasonable coverage for the meds. I just hope your employer comes back with something better than it sounds like they might.

jo

Unclebubba

You may be right about them not being able to deny you based on your medical history in Ohio. I think I remember someone saying there was one state that legislated this way. What I do know is that most of the states are not this way - ie. companies can deny whoever they want in the individual market. New Mexico is one - both myself and my husband have been denied individual insurance (he has a congential heart defect -what a pair!). I am going to guess that Iowa may be the same because of the fact that it does have a high risk insurance pool - probably would not need that if companies there legally had to insure whoever wanted it. Anyhow, just a heads up for you to maybe double check that you are covered in this regard if you choose to give up your current plan.

jo

Thanks Joma and unclebubba.

Hi DesertDance. As of now, there is no cure for UC except removal of the colon. I am glad you have found relief using natural remedies though. Sorry to hear you don't have insurance. It sure is scary, isn't it?

So my boss still doesn't have a plan set up for us....said he's "working on it," but he said something to the effect of we can still get our prescriptions and go to doctor visits this month because we are already covered under COBRA. I haven't even received my COBRA papers yet (don't you have to apply/sign up for it?), so I'm not sure what he's talking about. He also said it won't be ridiculously expensive for this month we're on it...that it will be the same as what we were paying for health insurance, because he is paying the other portion of it or something. I'm confused. I also don't trust this guy.

Thanks, Joma. Last week Wednesday, our old company told us they would be mailing us COBRA papers within 10 business days, so if I don't receive anything by then I will contact them. Our old company still exists, so I don't have to worry about your last point.

Sara14 said...
Update: Two weeks later and my new boss still doesn't have any insurance plans set up for us. I have yet to receive my COBRA papers in the mail. They said they would send them within 10 business days, so if I don't get them by the end of the week I will call.

Today, my boss passed out these generic health insurance application forms. I'm not exactly sure what they were (and when I asked, he basically blew me off and just told me to fill it out), but he said we all had to fill them out so he could see what type of group plan we might be eligible for. The forms asked us all of the typical background information that would normally be asked on an insurance form, plus they asked us to list all of our pre-existing conditions, any prescription medications we take regularly and if we will need "lifetime treatment and/or medications" for any conditions we have. Is this legit? It seems like if they know about my UC, they won't cover me.

He is putting your group out for quotes from an insurance broker. Each one in the potential group fills out the application and then the group goes through underwriting. The insurance companies then quote your employer group coverage based on the demographics of your group including age, health issues etc. Has nothing to do with your personal insurability. Will have impact on the cost.

cobra question?  My son was on cobra for 12 months and now is deciding to go back to school (hes 21) I can cover him til 25.  My company said if he goes back on cobra he'll have the remaining 6 months left.  Cobra said, and they said its cobras law, that if its a life altering event, which is school, that his cobra benefits would start at 18 months again.  I'm not sure if my human resources is wrong (im hoping), or the people are cobra as wrong.  that wound't make sense, they should know and he reassured me, over and over again.  thats its not up to my company.  If he goes to school, and lets say, decides to stop after this semester, or next one, his benefits would start over.  Does anyone know for sure?  or been in this situation.  Of course as he starts school this month his in a major flare.  more blood work, samples.  He's really upset.  Hopefully he will start on schedule.  thanks

UCinGV - No, they haven't canceled it company-wide. Our newspaper got sold. They canceled it only for our newspaper. They own a bunch of other newspapers that are still covered. We are getting COBRA.