Re: Xolair cost for seniors - pre-existing condition

[Guest guest]

I live in NC and I think the rule is that, as long as you have not

been OUT of coverage for more than a short period of time (I forget

what it is - 90 days, maybe), insurance companies are not allowed to

refuse to cover a pre-existing condition. However, if you've been

without coverage for the requisite period, they can then refuse to

cover the condition for, I think, your first six months on the new

plan. I don't know if that is a federal law or an NC law. I know

about it b/c I left a job about three years ago and stupidly didn't

sign up for cobra and it took a while for me to get new insurance, so

I was without insurance long enough to then be hit with the pre-

existing condition penalty.

Addy

>

> My wife's employer pays for our medical insurance which pays for my

> Xolair shots. She will retire in a couple years and loose the

> coverage. My employer doesn't offer medical insurance.

>

> I have some questions about this upcoming situation:

>

> 1. If I find a new employer that offers medical insurance, am I

likely

> to have the new insurance company deny Xolair costs as a treatment

for

> a pre-existing condition?

>

> 2. I'll turn 65 in a few years. Will medicare or medigap or

medicare

> drug coverage pay the Xolair costs and what will the copays be?

>

[Guest guest]

You are right, Addy. It is a federal law. Our school allowed employees who

were let go, or left on their own, to pay through COBRA until they could find

another job and coverage elsewhere. " Manganese's wife " could be allowed COBRA

although I'm not sure it applies to retirees. I don't see why it wouldn't. She

might also be allowed to keep that insurance, but the premiums would be steep--I

know! Ours are, but it is worth it as we rarely pay anything for any of our

medical needs, except for co-pay for prescriptions.

Adah

pyle456 <coachmac@...> wrote:

I live in NC and I think the rule is that, as long as you have not

been OUT of coverage for more than a short period of time (I forget

what it is - 90 days, maybe), insurance companies are not allowed to

refuse to cover a pre-existing condition. However, if you've been

without coverage for the requisite period, they can then refuse to

cover the condition for, I think, your first six months on the new

plan. I don't know if that is a federal law or an NC law. I know

about it b/c I left a job about three years ago and stupidly didn't

sign up for cobra and it took a while for me to get new insurance, so

I was without insurance long enough to then be hit with the pre-

existing condition penalty.

Addy

>

> My wife's employer pays for our medical insurance which pays for my

> Xolair shots. She will retire in a couple years and loose the

> coverage. My employer doesn't offer medical insurance.

>

> I have some questions about this upcoming situation:

>

> 1. If I find a new employer that offers medical insurance, am I

likely

> to have the new insurance company deny Xolair costs as a treatment

for

> a pre-existing condition?

>

> 2. I'll turn 65 in a few years. Will medicare or medigap or

medicare

> drug coverage pay the Xolair costs and what will the copays be?

>

---------------------------------

oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.