Re: I've got the ball a rollin'

[Guest guest]

Good luck my thoughts are with you. dovorce con be

very difficult. stay focused.

--- xxx_sweetassangel_xxx

wrote:

>

> Last friday, March 11, I finally got my braces on.

> I have only been

> waiting for them since August of 04. I am paying

> for them out of my

> own pocket, so I had to reschedule my appt. 2x. On

> top of that, I am

> getting divorced, and right now, I'm not sure I will

> even have

> insurance when it is time to do my surgery. I have

> to have bottom

> and possibly top done. About 12 yrs ago, I wore

> braces for 3 yrs and

> had my bottom done. Unfortunately, it relapsed

> completely. Does

> anyone have any ideas about insurance for me? Has

> anyone else

> started the process while going through a divorce?

> I guess I will

> just take it a day at a time right now and figure

> something out when

> it gets closer.

>

> Carolyn

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Carolyn,

Legally you are entitled to up to 18 months of COBRA through your

husbands insurance company... that's 18 months AFTER the divorce. They

can set it up so the bill goes straight to you and you pay directly to

the COBRA provider, without having to use your ex as the intermediary.

This would be valid even if your ex-husband left his current job... the

COBRA, once activated, cannot be cut short unless you don't pay the

bill or you get insurance through another provider. Now, while you are

still married and covered, you (or your husband... if that's an option)

should call your husbands employers human recourses department and ask

them to provide you with the information. They are legally required to

provide you with COBRA. My boyfriend used to be covered through his

ex-wife but when they divorced he let the coverage lapse because he did

not want to be tethered to her at all... it was only after that he

learned she really has nothing to do with it once it goes into the

COBRA system and he really should have stayed on the insurance. It is

simply a legal right that we as Americans have through the government.

We have so few... take advantage :-)

I hope this helps. If for some reason this is not an option, all

insurance plans are required to offer individual coverage programs

whose rates and benefits vary based on the programs. Usually those

programs are HMO's & will only allow you to go in-network and there is

a laundry list of headaches you may have trying to get coverage for the

surgery but if you shop around and ask the right questions- keep

copious notes and have a surgeon that will help you navigate the

system, you may emerge victorious. I fought for the surgery based

partially on the fact that when I called the company to ask my options,

I was led to believe I would have no problem getting the surgery

covered if I signed up for that plan. Also, most plans make you wait 12

months if you have a pre-existing condition AND you have not had

coverage of any kind for a span of 60 or so days. That means, if you

decide not to get COBRA through your husbands provider, do not let

yourself go uninsured for very long (63 days was my provider... I'm

sure they vary) or you will have a whole new set of headaches. Same is

true if you do take his COBRA for 18 months and then learn your surgery

will happen right after that coverage ends or something painful like

that. If you have been covered consistently and are just moving from

one provider to the next, they legally cannot withhold coverage on the

grounds of pre-existing condition. I am 99% certain of that fact but

you should ask when and if it may apply to you. I encountered EVERY

SINGLE insurance calamity while trying to navigate the system and get

coverage. It is a difficult system that wants to make it more difficult

so just keep notes and keep focussed. Personally, if your husbands

coverage is a good plan that will cover this with no headaches, I'd pay

the monthly fee if nothing else for the peace of mind.

Good Luck!

Tova

> Good luck my thoughts are with you. dovorce con be

> very difficult. stay focused.

> --- xxx_sweetassangel_xxx

> wrote:

> >

> > Last friday, March 11, I finally got my braces on.

> > I have only been

> > waiting for them since August of 04.  I am paying

> > for them out of my

> > own pocket, so I had to reschedule my appt. 2x.  On

> > top of that, I am

> > getting divorced, and right now, I'm not sure I will

> > even have

> > insurance when it is time to do my surgery.  I have

> > to have bottom

> > and possibly top done.  About 12 yrs ago, I wore

> > braces for 3 yrs and

> > had my bottom done.  Unfortunately, it relapsed

> > completely. Does

> > anyone have any ideas about insurance for me?  Has

> > anyone else

> > started the process while going through a divorce?

> > I guess I will

> > just take it a day at a time right now and figure

> > something out when

> > it gets closer. 

> >

> > Carolyn

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>