well, what to do now? I am totally bummed out because today I received word from my insurance guy that due to my pre-existing condition of having some minor skin cancers removed I am NOT going to be able to buy a health insurance policy in the individual market.
I have health insurance now thru my employer but REALLY, REALLY wanted to retire & do the part time rv thing sometime towards the end of the year. I will turn 56 in a couple days....so too young for medicare.
he told me my only other options were high risk pool but you have to be without insurance for 6 months to qualify for that (who makes these stupid rules?) or a conversion plan thru my current group BCBC. just emailed our plan administrator to see what THAT will cost me OR I could exhaust my COBRA & hope that in 18 months something changes in the rules.
I don't understand why this has to be so hard. I have had health insurance my WHOLE life and never had anything major. 2 children & a couple of skin cancers removed so I am UNINSURABLE/HIGH RISK!!!???
I would be willing to have an exclusion for the skin cancer for a period of time because I have a current AFLAC cancer policy but due to some recently passed regulations the insurance companies can't or won't sell policies like that anymore
well..........thanks for letting me vent...I am ever the optimist so I am holding out that the conversion policy will turn out to be AFFORDABLE!!??? keep your fingers crossed for me
rjenkins said
01:48 PM Jan 4, 2011
Since you have insurance through your employer now and planning on retiring by year end, wouldn't you have the option to stay on your employers plan, although you may pay more for it than you do now, or is that the COBRA you are talking about. Sorry, just ignorant on this but interested since I am in my 50's and needing to inform myself more about these options.
Ckerr said
03:06 PM Jan 4, 2011
One of the things that was passed with the health care bill was a measure that said you could not be denied insurance for pre-existing conditions. I'm not sure when it goes into effect. For some reason 2012 sticks in my mind. You may want to check that out.
I would also talk to a different insurance agent. Not all of them are up on the changes to law that have been made and not all have access to all insurance options. For example, my niece is 24 and just graduated from college and got her first "real" job. She's a respiratory therapist at a hospitial. The benefits counselor there told her she would not be covered by her parents policy because she graduated. Fact is, the health care bill changed the law so that she can stay on her parents policy until she is 26 regardless of her school or work status. Since her parents have to maintain a family policy for their other daughter, it makes no sense for her to pay for another policy. You would think the benefits people at a hospital would be up to date on the latest changes, but not always the case.
Bottom line is don't get discouraged and check some more options. I'm sure there is an option out there that would work. Also, rules still vary from state to state, so that is another possible avenue to explore.
Good luck!
SLIPSLID-N-AWAY said
03:11 PM Jan 4, 2011
yes, the COBRA is what you can get for 18 months after you leave employment. but after that you are on your own and what if some other illness comes up during those 18 months that makes it even harder to find someone to sell you insurance. I was hoping to find something w/out going the COBRA route!
basically your options are:
get individual health insurance-very hard to do with any pre-existing condition use up your COBRA & then try to get individual coverage or get a conversion policy from your existing group carrier (I am told this is VERY expensive) go without insurance for 6 months in order to qualify for high risk pool insurance
TxYellowRose said
08:21 PM Jan 5, 2011
Are you a member of AARP? We got decent coverage by being members and then finding/applying online at ehealthinsurance.com.
Might be worth a look.
Good luck! I know how frustrating/devastating this is!
Cheers, Betty
Racerguy said
08:56 PM Jan 5, 2011
I would wait and see how your company retiree medical plan works out .Each company has it's own policy but mine was reasonable.If I retired at age 65 I would pay active employee rate but since I retired at age 60 I ended up paying an extra 5% premium(1% for each year before 65).It was still cheaper than I could have bought on the open market as I am still in the group rate the Company get's.Hopefully your company has something similar.I'm just praying this government health care debacle doesn't mess it up.
jb said
07:28 AM Jan 11, 2011
Jan 1 2014 is when the pre existing clause for adults goes into effect unless the law is repealed.
tnsauerkraut said
11:20 AM Jan 11, 2011
I agree about getting a second opinion. Not every agent is up to date on new info.
phxmtngirl said
01:46 PM Jan 11, 2011
We used COBRA until the fed govt quit paying 65% of the cost. (was going to go up to 1,387.26 per mo), so this is what we are doing now.
No insurance - I am 47 w/health issues (diegestive), he is 55 good health. We simply could no longer afford COBRA, and I am un-insurable because of pre-existing. Sooooooooooo I am now Maria Garcia - homeless!!!!!
Prior to losing health ins I met w/Dr changed all RX to generic that I can easily afford, he told me I have to come in once a year and he will only charge me 60.00 to renew RX's.
Now if I need to go to the emergency room that is where Maria Garcia - Homeless comes in...
I tried to get on state ran health plan but because we own our car & home we do not quality. Now my hubby was laid off 1-1/2 yrs ago, he is a professional, but in AZ jobs are very hard to come by.
I'm sorry, I'm ranting and venting also, but I think after paying all our lives, doing the best we can to stay healty we now are un-insurable.
I have health insurance now thru my employer but REALLY, REALLY wanted to retire & do the part time rv thing sometime towards the end of the year. I will turn 56 in a couple days....so too young for medicare.
he told me my only other options were high risk pool but you have to be without insurance for 6 months to qualify for that (who makes these stupid rules?) or a conversion plan thru my current group BCBC. just emailed our plan administrator to see what THAT will cost me
I don't understand why this has to be so hard. I have had health insurance my WHOLE life and never had anything major. 2 children & a couple of skin cancers removed so I am UNINSURABLE/HIGH RISK!!!???
I would be willing to have an exclusion for the skin cancer for a period of time because I have a current AFLAC cancer policy but due to some recently passed regulations the insurance companies can't or won't sell policies like that anymore
well..........thanks for letting me vent...I am ever the optimist so I am holding out that the conversion policy will turn out to be AFFORDABLE!!??? keep your fingers crossed for me
basically your options are:
get individual health insurance-very hard to do with any pre-existing condition
use up your COBRA & then try to get individual coverage or get a conversion policy from your existing group carrier (I am told this is VERY expensive)
go without insurance for 6 months in order to qualify for high risk pool insurance
Might be worth a look.
Good luck! I know how frustrating/devastating this is!
Cheers,
Betty