Getting terminated soon....ins question

CelticGwen

I am currently on Long Term Disability. Since I have not been able to work for a year, my employer is terminating me as of Dec 26th. Disability will continue to pay me until June 2012. My question is this: Will I be able to get insurance under my husband? Open enrollment just started and I want to get on top of this. Can they reject me, or deny payment of services for a pre-existing condition? I had heard that since this is insurance through an employer that I couldn't be denied, but I want to know for sure.

sewingnut

I would think if your husbands insurance is a group plan you should be ok. Usually they can ask for a letter of insurability showing there was no lapse in coverage. I would get a copy of his health plan booklet and find out.

CelticGwen

Thanks! Just got his open enrollment package, will start looking through it now

clfinch

I have a strong family history of breast cancer and was diagnosed myself in late 2009.  I put off having the BRCA test because I thought I would be at risk of losing insurance.  I work for a large private organization and finally spoke with a very informed woman in HR.  Like Sewingnut wrote, a group plan cannot deny you medical coverage because you do not have to take a physical or fill out any medical history forms.  The only way you can be denied coverage is if you had to take out an individual health insurance policy.

Best of luck to you. 

lauri

I believe (but I could be wrong) that a spouse's group insurance has to accept a dependent's being added to a policy when a life event (like marriage or birth of a child or your losing insurance because of being unemployed) at any time the life event occurs, not just during open enrollment.  But it's good timing since you can pick the insurance that best meets needs for both of you.

Just don't let there be a 63-day lapse between insurance coverage, otherwise they CAN impose pre-existing clauses.

3katz

lauri is right. I have just gone through this exact same thing this year. You may just have to get a letter from your current plan proving coverage. The benefits administrator at your husband's company will let you know what you need. You cannot be denied due to a pre-existing condition. Good luck.

 For what it's worth - I ended up taking COBRA because my insurance was far superior (DH works for a very small company) and the overall expenses were LESS than his plan with better coverage. The downside is COBRA is only available for 18 months but can be extended to 36 months if one is disabled. And it's expensive.

Here's something else to consider - I see you are stage IV. Are you collecting SSD? If so, you should be eligible for medicare 2 years after SSD started. If you are NOT on SSD, you should apply, a Stage IV cancer diagnosis will be approved.

rosie06ct

yes laurie is correct. A life altering event spouse losinig a job,becoming siabled, etc  you do not have to wait for open enrollment just fill out paperwork and thats is for him to add you  no health questions etc ...

nancyh

You can switch to your husband's insurance and will have no issues with pre-existing conditions.  This has been the law since the HIPAA act went into law, you can't be denied for pre-existing as long as you don't have an extended break in coverage.

Best wishes, you should be just fine being added to your hubby's insurance.