Medical insurance question

[kelly McC]

My husband applied for a new job after 13 years. Looks like we will be moving. His benefits package does not start for 3-4 months basically you work 600 hours then everything kicks in. I am going to talk to my pelvic doctor (he does my meds) see if we can work something out for 3 month supply.Him I only see every 3 months so that will work. What other things can I ? For my boys for the 3 months? Is it easier just to wait out the 3 months and have no insurance that scares me a little.
both boys my husband and myself are all on medicines. Hope something can be worked out with the doctors . I am most worried about my oldest son's knee since were still not sure what he did till saturday.
Kelly

[vm]

You could get COBRA to cover you during that gap. It is expensive b/c you are paying your part of the premium, plus what his former employer did. I am thinking you probably should b/c you want to have continuous coverage so you don't get stuck with a pre-existing condition - for your IC. I think if you have continuous coverage with any insurance company, the new insurance company can't deny coverage for things related to IC. But if you have a gap they may be able to.

But I'm not sure! :( Others here may understand all that better than I do. I know that is the way it used to be, but it may have changed.

Sometimes there are state programs that can cover your kids during the gap depending on your level of income.

[kelly McC]

Thats interesting. I did not know that so all of us have pre existing conditions youngest has asthma, oldest has migraines, my list is long and husband has degenerate disc disease and arthritis humm I will have to look into this . His job is Union so I am not sure how that works with medical coverage we read the package theres nothing about pre existing conditions.
I did think about the states program but it can take up to 9 weeks to get benefits it may be better to go with cobra and pay for now. Not sure we can afford it hummm
husband said its around 800.00 a month

[kelly McC]

Does anyone know who I can contact about these questions?
Thankyou

[Portia17]

Kelly

I work for company who does cobra-hipaa (well currently on disability with my company from i.c.)

If you husband had insurance at his previous employment, he should have been supplied a HIPAA certificate which by law when either you go on cobra or under new insurance, insurance must pay for ALL preexisting conditions.

If he does not have this HIPAA cert, please tell him to call either his former employer our current insurance company from is employer to obtain one.

If it was me, I would go in cobra. I know it is expensive but 3 to 4 months is a long wait without insurance

[vm]

Kelly - I would check with the new insurance company and see how much of a gap in coverage is allowed before they will consider prior sickness, illness, etc. as a pre-existing condition and then disallow coverage for a period of time. Someone there should be able to fill you in on all that. :)

[kelly McC]

still not getting any real answers with the insurance company . We called they said someone would get back to us. I have been talking to some people who work with insurance companies I never knew you could be denied for pre existing conditions and all that stuff they said more than likely with it being a union job everything would be covered. I am checking with my work to see if medical coverage would be cheaper than cobra 800.00 we just cant afford that too keep the current one for 4 months with rent ,medical exspenses,utilities and such..
Kelly

[tigger_gal]

sorry your not getting any answers, and I don't have any to offer.. I hope you all can get a 3 month supply of your meds. I hope all works out well for you.. where you moving to?
Brat

[vm]

Kelly - Check out this page. It is from Illinois, but the info regarding HIPAA is the same everywhere I believe. I think it is saying if you have a gap in coverage of more than 63 days the new insurance company can deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Check it out and see if it sounds like that to you, too.

http://www.ins.state.il.us/HealthInsurance/HIPAA_preexisting_cond.htm