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Health Insurance (Expert Forum)
Looking Ahead for Insurance Needs
Answered by
Amir Mostafaie - Health Insurance, Insurance
eHealthInsurance
Gold River - CA
This forum is for questions and support regarding health insurance issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, Long-term health insurance, COBRA, insurance portability.
Looking Ahead for Insurance Needs
by Strike3, Apr 15, 2008 04:50PM
I was laid off 12/31/07 - am carrying my former employer's health insurance through COBRA - BC/BS, EPO Plan.
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer (Stage 0) 1/2/08 and am dealing with the treatment for that - probably be out of action and unable to really look for a new position until July or August of this year.
I am 24 years post Hodgkins Lymphoma treatment and 5+ years post Ovarian Cancer (Stage 1 - almost no chance of recurrence following treatment).
My COBRA will carry me through June, 2009 - if the worst happens and I don't find new employment with appropriate benefits by that time - will I be unable to purchase private insurance at any price - or is there some sort of plan out there for me? Is there anything I could be doing now to help with getting insurance in the future?
Thanks for your help.
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer (Stage 0) 1/2/08 and am dealing with the treatment for that - probably be out of action and unable to really look for a new position until July or August of this year.
I am 24 years post Hodgkins Lymphoma treatment and 5+ years post Ovarian Cancer (Stage 1 - almost no chance of recurrence following treatment).
My COBRA will carry me through June, 2009 - if the worst happens and I don't find new employment with appropriate benefits by that time - will I be unable to purchase private insurance at any price - or is there some sort of plan out there for me? Is there anything I could be doing now to help with getting insurance in the future?
Thanks for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by Amir Mostafaie, Apr 16, 2008 01:43PM
, Apr 16, 2008 01:43PM
Dear Strike3,
If you elected COBRA after leaving your employment, you can continue with the COBRA coverage as long as you pay your premiums for 18 months from when you left your employment. After you exhaust the 18 months of COBRA, you will be eligible for HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act). States provide at least one guarantee-issue option for those individuals to purchase individual market insurance, as long as that coverage is purchased within 63 days of disenrollment from the group plan.
In Colorado, the state high-risk health insurance pool, Cover Colorado, has been designated as the guarantee-issue option for individuals exercising their HIPAA rights.
To get more information about Cover Colorado visit www.covercolorado.org or call 877-461-3811.
As for something you could be doing now to help with getting insurance in the future, make sure all treatments recommended by your physicians are completed.
Sincerely,
Amir Mostafaie
If you elected COBRA after leaving your employment, you can continue with the COBRA coverage as long as you pay your premiums for 18 months from when you left your employment. After you exhaust the 18 months of COBRA, you will be eligible for HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act). States provide at least one guarantee-issue option for those individuals to purchase individual market insurance, as long as that coverage is purchased within 63 days of disenrollment from the group plan.
In Colorado, the state high-risk health insurance pool, Cover Colorado, has been designated as the guarantee-issue option for individuals exercising their HIPAA rights.
To get more information about Cover Colorado visit www.covercolorado.org or call 877-461-3811.
As for something you could be doing now to help with getting insurance in the future, make sure all treatments recommended by your physicians are completed.
Sincerely,
Amir Mostafaie
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