Cobra ending..self employed..new insurance?

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LaurieParr
LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

Hello,

I am self employed and my cobra will end in December. Can anyone tell me if my now pre-existing BC diagnosis will affect me getting regular insurance? Does anyone have any suggestions for a good insurance to look into? It would be for my entire family.

Thank you in advance and God bless.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited March 2013

    Laurie, in 2014 Obamacare starts preventing insurers declining you for preexisting conditions.

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  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited March 2013

    Thanks friend. I was just conderned about a "lapse" between 2013 and 2014.  :)  My husband just told me all should be fine and he doesn't want me to worry about it.  :)

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  • blanviper
    blanviper Member Posts: 108
    edited April 2013

    Laurie- I'm self employed and have purchased private insurance for myself and my husband. Many insurers will let you switch from cobra to their plan without placing restrictions on pre-existing conditions as long as there is NO LAPSE in coverage of a significant time. From what I hear, not all are like that so you have to shop around. The rules and insurers vary state to state. I would advise NOT to let your coverage lapse at all as that seems to be the thing that lets many discriminate against a pre-existing condition until 2014.

    Unfortunately, insurers vary state to state, as do their plans so I couldn't advise you on who is best. I live in NYC and I have an HMO plan available only to self-employed folks in this region. 

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  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited April 2013

    Blanviper,



    Thank you so much for your thoughts and advice. I truly appreciate it and it was very helpful.



    I hope you are doing well. God bless.

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  • itsjustme10
    itsjustme10 Member Posts: 796
    edited April 2013

    Health insurance is different in every state.  In the states like NY, that have guaranteed acceptance, the premiums are insane, and the coverage is not the best (Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield downstate part of the state crappy HMO,close to 1500/month single, $4800/month family, , better combo indemnity/hmo $1900/month single, $6000/month family and I'm not kidding - it's about a $1000/month increase for families since last year when I checked.)..  Other states can still pick and choose through December 31, 2013 - and I'm sure they will.

    The worst that will happen is you might have a 1 month gap...from December 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014.

    Can you find a professional organization that has created a group for its members?  I know there's an engineering one, or was a few years back.

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  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited April 2013

    Thank you so much! Those were my thoughts exactly. Yes, my husband said he is confident that he can find a group insurance. The only caveat may be that it may require that I have clean margins for a year first. We shall see.....

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  • itsjustme10
    itsjustme10 Member Posts: 796
    edited April 2013

    If you're transferring from 1 coverage to another, from what I remember, companies usually waive the waiting period for pre-existing conditions.  I believe you can have up to a 63 day lapse in coverage for them to still waive the waiting period - if nothing else, it's yet another thing for you to check on - but if it makes you not have to wait a year to be covered, it's worth the research!! :)

    Hope it all works out for you. :)

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  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited April 2013

    Thank you again! Very helpful!

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  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 1,107
    edited April 2013

    Does anyone know how this might play out in California?  I currently live in MA and am planning to move to CA, but the insurance piece is concerning me.

    Thanks

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  • Golden01
    Golden01 Member Posts: 916
    edited April 2013

    We faced this when my son was on COBRA (from my group plan) when he graduated from college and didn't yet have a job with insurance. He has a serious bone condition that has required a number of surgeries (including a big one while he was on COBRA). We live in Arizona and found as long as he did not have a lapse in coverage, there would be no waiting period for coverage of preexisitng conditions. He lives in Hawaii and found he had some great options offerred to small business owners there (he was freelancing at the time). Turned out he got a job with insurance before we needed to make the switch! You are right, the new insurance exchanges go into effect next year. Here's a link to learn more: http://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/about/index.html

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  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited April 2013

    Thank you SO much! Blessings to you and your son. :)

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  • MNSusan
    MNSusan Member Posts: 305
    edited April 2013

    My COBRA expires June 30, my husband now has Medicare and I'm just starting to navigate the system.  I think coverage will be possible, but at what cost?  I currently have TEs and hope to have my exchange surgery before the insurance coverage ends.  What a mess.  

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  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited April 2013

    Susan,

    Are you from MN?  Me too! St. Paul.  :)

    I am SO sorry about your situation. It does sound like a mess. It's scary isn't it?  I will pray for a miracle for you.  I have yet to figure out what to do about mine. :(

    XOXOXO

    Laurie

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