May have UC. What to do???

Go with the employer's insurance. If you change jobs, you can transfer to your new employer with no break in coverage. As it stands now, the private insurance company is likely to cancel you if you are diagnosed with UC.

Judy2 said...
Go with the employer's insurance. If you change jobs, you can transfer to your new employer with no break in coverage. As it stands now, the private insurance company is likely to cancel you if you are diagnosed with UC.

I though I couldn't be canceled by the private insurance company if I am diagnosed after coverage begins?

notsosicklygirl said...
Group policies tend to be much better with lower deductibles. You can worry about getting private insurance if and when you need it. For now, go witht he group. One thing that seems to be important is not letting it lapse if you do lose coverage. I would go get checked out ASAP, you may have a bug and not a chronic problem like UC. It's a shame to deal with UC-like symptoms if you may have something curable. Go to the dr. Why wait to get a new job if you're insured now?

I have been to the doctor who thinks its UC, I just haven't had a colonoscopy yet. The reason I was waiting was because if I am diagnosed with UC under my parents insurance, when I got the new private insurance I would get turned down because UC is uninsurable.

The problem of "worrying about getting private insurance if and when you need it" is that if I need it after being diagnosed with UC, no one will insure me, or else extremely high premiums right?

Also, how do I know my next job will offer group health insurance? Do most companies still offer insurance that I can sign up for even after I have been diagnosed with UC?

Post Edited (sodabrab) : 9/17/2010 8:24:32 PM (GMT-6)

sodabrab said...
I'm still under my parent's insurance but I need to find my own now. I'm starting a job which has very affordable group insurance which I can get in with no exam.

Do not go uninsured. Stay on your parents' insurance until you switch to another insurance plan. If possible, get the group insurance. It is going to be cheaper than private insurance.

sodabrab said...
The only problem is if I quit my job before retirement, I loose my benefits.

This is very likely to happen. When you loose your job, switch to Cobra, which is cheaper than private insurance. Cobra lasts only so long though. So right before it's scheduled to end, switch to private insurance. Your pre-existing conditions should be covered as long as you have insurance.

sodabrab said...
Should I just find affordable individual insurance apart from my company? It will be way more expensive, but I won't ever have to worry about loosing my insurance.

No. You can get private insurance at any time. The important thing to remember is to have no gaps in insurance. As long as there are no gaps, your pre-existing conditions should be covered.

sodabrab said...
If I decide to move jobs, I guess I would be limited to employers that have group insurance right?

No. You can always get private insurance, and your pre-existing conditions will be covered as long as there are no gaps in insurance coverage. Private insurance is more expensive though and it is a consideration when negotiating salary.

sodabrab said...
Also, can I be insured by my employer and individual insurance at the same time?

Not a good idea. I've heard of patients having difficulty getting their bills paid due to the insurance companies arguing about who is responsible for paying the bill.

Please note: These suggestions are based on my experiences. I am not a lawyer. Plus, laws change. Please verify everything that I stated above before deciding to do anything.

subdued said...
This is very likely to happen. When you loose your job, switch to Cobra, which is cheaper than private insurance. Cobra lasts only so long though. So right before it's scheduled to end, switch to private insurance. Your pre-existing conditions should be covered as long as you have insurance.

Ok. So even if I get diagnosed with UC under the group insurance, I can get private insurance with regular premiums when I quit my job as long as I get it before COBRA ends? It seems like the private insurance company would know my medical history and not insure me.

notsosicklygirl said...
There are programs for people who are denied insurance:
http://www.healthcare.gov/

I'm currently insured under my parents insurance so I'm just trying to avoid being denied in the future when I quit my job and loose group insurance.

I don't think healthcare reform kicks in for adults with preexisting conditions until 2014.

There are options that have recently become available for people who get denied insurance. I used to think you get denied, that's it, you can't get anything but there are programs, you just have to look. It's not easy. I spent the last 2 years unemployed but I got insurance through an employer finally and it is group. There are also guilds which offer group insurance depending on  your profession. Freelancers and contractors have groups available. http://www.usfsb.com/

http://www.healthcare.gov/ can be helpful if you are denied private insurance and don't have any other avenues available.