Insurance question

[Allifunn]

my divorce will be final the end of this month, and as of then I will no longer have health insurance. This is making me nervous now, I have a family history of skin cancer and have already had 2 places removed from my back in the last 4 years, all of which were necessary and expensive! I need health insurance for this purpose but do not have any with the job I am in. I need to look into an affordable option...does any one have insight into where I should start?

 

[Mango]

That's a bummer Alli. You may want to start with your State offices first and see if they have options. Some States have different options for un-insured. Did you chek with your employer and see if they have something that you can pay for? Usually the larger the employer, the better the price.
You would not believe what they charge in New York for health insurance and the rates have gone up on me 25% every year for the past 5 yrs.
Sickening. It saddens me how many people in the country do not have health insurance. It's a big bone of contention with me.
Good luck.

 

[sunspotbaby]

I see lots of commercials now for Blueoptions (Blue Cross), but I've never checked it out. I'm currently covered, but insurance costs have skyrocketed
in the last few years. I'm considering taking the money that's taken out of my check and putting it away for medical costs, but we all know when you never see that money you don't miss it. If it's sitting there in the bank...I'm spendin' it! It comes to over $5,000 per year! Good luck. Post what you find if you don't mind.

 

[dbuck]

my divorce will be final the end of this month, and as of then I will no longer have health insurance. This is making me nervous now, I have a family history of skin cancer and have already had 2 places removed from my back in the last 4 years, all of which were necessary and expensive! I need health insurance for this purpose but do not have any with the job I am in. I need to look into an affordable option...does any one have insight into where I should start?

Can you get COBRA benefits thru your ex's insurance? Of course, it only lasts for about one year, but better than nothing.

 

[Mango]

Can you get COBRA benefits thru your ex's insurance? Of course, it only lasts for about one year, but better than nothing.

Excellent idea Dbuck. :clap_1:

 

[Allifunn]

Can you get COBRA benefits thru your ex's insurance? Of course, it only lasts for about one year, but better than nothing.

COBRA will cost me about as much as my own policy. My employer is CHI Omega and they are not likley to provide for me. That is the breaks of the line of work I am in. I may have to seek employment that will provide decent medical coverage

 

[dbuck]

COBRA will cost me about as much as my own policy. My employer is CHI Omega and they are not likley to provide for me. That is the breaks of the line of work I am in. I may have to seek employment that will provide decent medical coverage

BUT his policy may be better than what your own policy (new policy) would provide. This may be the push you need to start looking for a job in the SoWal area.

 

[Mango]

Can you get COBRA benefits thru your ex's insurance? Of course, it only lasts for about one year, but better than nothing.

BUT his policy may be better than what your own policy (new policy) would provide. This may be the push you need to start looking for a job in the SoWal area.

Good idea. See you can cook the meal, and I'll tell you what herbs to add for what ails the person. Cheaper than going to the doctor, and tastier. We could ask, lets say, $50 a plate, and have an apothecary located inside. :funn:

 

[Allifunn]

Good idea. See you can cook the meal, and I'll tell you what herbs to add for what ails the person. Cheaper than going to the doctor, and tastier. We could ask, lets say, $50 a plate, and have an apothecary located inside. :funn:

MMMMM....I like this idea!
You may be right Dbuck...I'll talk to soon-to-be-ex about it...I know he will want to help out if his COBRA is a better deal....

 

[SGB]

As I found out the hard way, health insurance is a tricky thing. If you can get COBRA through your ex, it might have several advantages. If you have a health issue it is often hard to get your own coverage, at least with a health insurance company you want to do business with. However, if you have COBRA and pay for COBRA until it expires, most insurance companies have to continue to cover you, although it might be at a higher rate. If you currently have a good insurance plan through your husband, you might want to be able to stick with it. For instance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield is considered to be a good insurance company for around here since everyone takes it. So if you have COBRA through them, they have to keep you as a client when your COBRA expires. You might not be able to get Blue Cross/Blue Shield on your own. Blue Cross/Blue Shield has very strict requirements on who they will accept for private health insurance and rule out a lot of people. Some insurance companies will write riders for exclusions for preexisting conditions. Blue Cross/Blue Shield will just not cover you at all if you have certain preexisting conditions. Also I believe that if you buy COBRA until it expires, you are protected by certain laws, that I can't remember right now, which allows you to get coverage, when you might not otherwise be able to. So although COBRA is often very expensive, it might be the best option in the long run. Whatever you do, do NOT let your health insurance coverage lapse. I seem to remember this was the first question I got asked when trying to get private health insurance. Call a few agents in your area and explore all your options and ask lots of questions before you have to make a final decision.