Health insurance?

[minitour]

About 27 years ago from my father, I inherited everything wrong with me from the SOB

If you're required to work within these systems for long enough, you start to find out very quickly where the edges are.

I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at, but to say that insurance companies are never obligated to pick up a pre-existing condition is incorrect. I'd do a little more research before making blanket statements and recommendations based on false information, but that's just me.

The COBRA thing wasn't a bad idea though. If one can afford it, it's definitely a good option to think about.

-mini

 

[jtrain609]

I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at, but to say that insurance companies are never obligated to pick up a pre-existing condition is incorrect. I'd do a little more research before making blanket statements and recommendations based on false information, but that's just me.

The COBRA thing wasn't a bad idea though. If one can afford it, it's definitely a good option to think about.

-mini

Well, COBRA's are a ripoff for the most part. As somebody pointed out, they cost A LOT, but they keep you on a group plan.

Here's the legwork for you, straight from big brother:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html

How does HIPAA apply when changing from group health coverage to an individual insurance policy?

HIPAA also protects those who are otherwise unable to get group health insurance.



The law guarantees access to individual insurance policies and state high-risk pools for eligible individuals. They must meet all of the following criteria:

• Had coverage for at least 18 months, most recently in a group health plan, without a significant break;
• Lost group coverage but not because of fraud or nonpayment of premiums;
• Are not eligible for COBRA coverage; or if COBRA coverage was offered under Federal or state law, elected and exhausted it; and
• Are not eligible for coverage under another group health plan, Medicare, or Medicaid; or have any other health insurance coverage.

The opportunity to buy an individual policy is the same whether a person quits a job, was fired, or was laid off.

You've got to have the full 18 months of COBRA before HIPAA will provide portability to a private insurance plan.


People think that HIPAA was just about privacy in your health records, because that's the experience they have with it; signing that sheet of paper that says a doctors office won't send your data to somebody without your say so. The other side of HIPAA, and this is the part that matters to somebody like me, is that it protects you from switching insurance plans and having them say "Nope, sorry, we won't cover X, Y or Z conditions."


But it only applies to group health care plans, unless you've met the qualifiers listed above.


Reform is needed in this country. People don't even know about this stuff until it's too late.

 

[minitour]

Well, COBRA's are a ripoff for the most part. As somebody pointed out, they cost A LOT, but they keep you on a group plan.

That's why I said... if one can afford it, it's an option. Group plans aren't the greatest in the world, but they can be better than a lot of personal options.

Here's the legwork for you, straight from big brother:

Thanks, but I sold insurance long enough and went to enough CE classes to know how it works...in my state.

-mini

 

[Roger, Roger]

Something more for y'all...
www.ehealthinsurance.com
They have a couple nice features. First, it will list a bunch of different plans and a WAG of their monthly costs. Second, it lets you select up to 4 different plans for a side-by-side comparison. I'm still kind of wary as I know they're trying to sell a product, but it's better than nothing.