Re: My Personal Health Insurance Experience

[Guest guest]

,

 

I'm so sorry for your situation.  May I ask what state you are in?

 

Is the $800.00 the cost for a guarantee-issue plan when your COBRA ends?  Or

just the high risk pool price?  Each state has different rules.  Some have price

protections on the amount of premium that can be charged.  I can look it up for

you, if you'd like.

 

Hopefully, there will be a federal solution soon that will address this, so that

there is some price protection, i.e. not having to pay more than a certain

percentage of income on insurance premiums.

 

In the meantime, I do wish you luck in finding a solution.  Is forming a small

business with someone else a possibility?  Again it depends on the rules in your

state for a small business insurance, but I could look that up too, if you'd

like.

 

[Guest guest]

When my son-in-law put my daughter in his insurance, he told them she had

Charcot Marie Tooth so they thought it had something to do with her teeth and

put her on his ins plan...LOL

I know it is next to imposable to get insurance........there were years I went

with out any.

Looks like may have some answers. Gretchen also is a wealth of knowledge

and info.too

Blessings

Geri

[Guest guest]

,

I am in Texas. 800 is the high risk pool price for the best insurance they

offer, which is still not as good as the Aetna plan I have now, and that rate

will go up as I age.

The small business thing does not solve the insurance issue. It still does not

allow me access to a group plan.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

No. Not laid off. Leaving my job, because I cannot do it with my CMT. It is very

physically demanding. It is unclear whether I qualify for the stimulus package

for my COBRA or not. The compliance office would not say. I do not know how long

it will take for me to find out.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

 

Your COBRA Administrator is required to give you a form to complete.  Once you

send it in, they should respond in a timely fashion.  (I haven't seen an exact

timeframe, but there may be one.)  If they deny your request and you disagree,

you have the option of appealing to the Department of Labor at www.dol.gov.  The

DOL will respond within 15 days of your submission.

 

The bad news is that you will likely be declined, since you weren't laid off by

the company, but left due to health reasons.  I'm so sorry.

 

Hopefully, you can find some kind of employment that suits your ability.

 

If you're able to continue working and you can get a job with an employer who

offers health insurance and disability insurance, that may provide you greater

financial protection.  If, in the future, you are no longer able to work at

all, you can go out on disability, rather than leaving that company.  You

can also apply for SSDI at that time.  By doing this, you may be able to

collect private disability benefits in addition to SSDI, which will enable you

to better afford your healthcare and other expenses of living.

 

If, however, your preference is to be self-employed, I would suggest not giving

up just yet on the individual plan options.  There are many insurers who offer

individual coverage in Texas.  Each company has their own underwriting rules

and their own application with medical questions.  Even though one company

denied you, there may be another who accepts you.  Of course, it may turn out

that you are declined all around, but before paying the high risk pool cost, you

may want to just make sure.  It may help to speak with an individual insurance

agent in your area, since he/she may know which carrier would be most likely to

accept your medical history.

 

Lastly, if it turns out that you're not able to do any kind of work right now,

then you can go ahead and apply for SSDI now.  After 24 months of approval,

you'll get Medicare, which is just a fraction of the cost of the high risk pool

in your area.

 

I hope this helps.  My heart goes out to you and I do wish you the best in

finding something that works, something that allows you to pursue your dreams.

 

 

From: cathy.power <slumpville@...>

Subject: Re: My Personal Health Insurance Experience

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 4:31 AM

 

,

No. Not laid off. Leaving my job, because I cannot do it with my CMT. It is very

physically demanding. It is unclear whether I qualify for the stimulus package

for my COBRA or not. The compliance office would not say. I do not know how long

it will take for me to find out.