Health insurance after mastectomies and job loss

moogie

My company closed and I am electing for Cobra insurance. This past year I had mastectomies that ended up being prophylactic upon biopsy : LCIS, ALH, ADH, ETC>>>>> My concern is : AFTER COBRA what then???? My state has no high risk pool for reasonable rates, and the only independent plan available without a medical review is so expensive it is well beyond our means. Frankly, I wonder who could afford it at all, upwards of $1300 a month for an individual.And the rates can be hiked every quarter.
ANy ideas from those who have already dealt with this issue? My former career is no longer an option ( jobs have gone out of the country )----and I must retrain myself in a new profession. In less than a year, and land a job with health benefits. It's overwhelming. The last time I was unemployed it took 11 months to land a full -time job in my area of expertise.
Moogie

ktwist

How long can you remain on Cobra? Is it only a few months or can you opt for longer? Also, have you looked into if LCIS will effect your status that much? Every dx is different....so maybe it won't??? Or wishful thinking. I know my DCIS effected me, so I would imagine it will be the same. I also have ADH. I already had an individual policy, but now I'm stuck with it and can't change. Typically with an individual policy, you switch around every few years to lower your rates as they increase....for me I have to stay with the status quo and live with the increases until I am clear of cancer for a number of years. My advise is to take any job with group insurance until you find something you want (interview in the mean time) so that you don't lose that group coverage. You have protection by law while under a group so that you can't be descriminated against based on your cancer. Individual policies don't have the same protection. Good luck to you-=

sdg605

Hi - check into a portability policy. You should not be denied individual coverage under this for a pre-existing condition unless you have let your insurance lapse for I believe a 63 day period. Hope this helps.

Sandy

Jorf

Starbucks and Whole Foods have good benefits. I've thought about it - I'm a pretty good grocery bagger. I could do that 3 days a week and get benefits and still work as a health care professional without benefits on 2 days....

Really, I agree - just get any job with benefits - even if it's low paying, if it saves you $1300 a month it's worth it. Then look into a new profession. Heck, you might even find one at your job.

Good luck. This health insurance thing in the US sucks.

Julie

CasinoGirl

COBRA is generally available for 18 months. Also, COBRA is considered "creditable coverage", so if you exhausted 18 months of COBRA then found other coverage within 63 days of COBRA ending, the insurer could not impose any pre-existing condition limitations.

Good luck. Hope you find a job with great coverage.

Donna

Watson

Just be careful about your state's laws regarding pre existing condition.

Texas has a risk pool, so individual carriers CAN impose their right to underwrite each person.

You're smart to be looking into all the rules ahead of time.

Best of luck!

Watson

ktwist

Yes, that was my main thought too. Here in Michigan, if you go with an individual policy, they will make you go through underwriting all over again and like I said before, you will end up with a pre-existing condition. Call a reputable agent and discuss your options per your state.

jz20022001

I also asked about this when I was first diagnosed. I was told that it might be difficult to get individual coverage but employers cannot discriminate, provide there was no break in coverage of more than 63 days.

Catherine

txred9876

I went back to work for the state for a couple of reason. I work so that I can have health insurance for myself( I had NO health insurance when i started this journey....I had inflammatory bc, IDC and extensive DCIS) and my husband whom takes enbrel (no insurance cost approx 1500 a month!). I told my husband just add all this to my salary because that is what I really am making!
If you can go to work for a company that is big enough and they have open enrollment you should be able to be covered no matter what. If they do say you have to have credible coverage then cobra should be fine. I had medicaid for 7 months then paid 5 months of the tx risk pool (where they did not pay a dime) and then they started paying. By then I was on my 3 months wait to have good health insurance and it finally has kicked in!
I was in real estate and loved it but had to make a choice for health insurance.

Tina

Anonymous

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Ontario

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