footballmom Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 What are the other medical insurance options? We've always carried health insurance through an employer. DH was laid off recently and we were planning on extending our coverage through Cobra. We've already met the deductible for the year so it made sense. Today we found out based on the size of the company and not living in the same state as their office, he will not be eligible for Cobra. He is not having a lot of luck in his search. I am freaking out. Thanks for any suggestions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 ehen we moved back from Canada, I just called the insurance company and was able to buy a policy. We basically got a catostrophic coverage plan, but I don't know if they are available anymore. I also know that there are insurance brokers who will run different options for you. You could call your local insurance place and ask if hey do that of know who does. Your kids probably would be eligible for state insurance . You could google how to do that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Are you in the US? Healthcare.gov or a private health insurance agent will be able to help you. You can buy through the marketplace even though it's not open enrollment because you've had a qualifying life change. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Depending on the state you are in, you may all be eligible for state insurance while he's on unemployment. Your children will likely qualify for coverage while he's unemployed unless you have another significant source of income besides UI insurance. You should start at healthcare.gov, and it will show you what is available in your particular area. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 ACA Exchange. It's still there, for now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Obamacare. A layoff is considered a "qualifying event" for signing up outside open enrollment season. A lot of insurance companies no longer sell non-Obamacare policies directly to individual families. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Find a good medical insurance broker licensed in your state. I know someone good in California, but don't know where you live. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Medicaid if you qualify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 My info is ancient, but when we had a COBRA plan it was 3x the monthly cost of what I ended up purchasing. That surprised me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 We have been with Liberty Healthshare for the past year. So far, we are happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 We have been with Liberty Healthshare for the past year. So far, we are happy with it. Good to see. I just signed up with them. Is submitting shareable expenses pretty painless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) It will vary depending on state, but I agree that you should look into Medicaid. You'd likely qualify in my state until your dh gets a job, unless he's getting an insane amount of unemployment. Your kids will almost certainly qualify at least, and you could then get coverage for just you two through the exchange and probably get a subsidy to help pay for it. Edited March 31, 2017 by Mergath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 My info is ancient, but when we had a COBRA plan it was 3x the monthly cost of what I ended up purchasing. That surprised me Pre-Obamacare, the only way people with preexisting conditions could get an individual policy was through COBRA so there was "adverse selection". Those who were healthy would not choose COBRA while those who had no other choice would. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Pre-Obamacare, the only way people with preexisting conditions could get an individual policy was through COBRA so there was "adverse selection". Those who were healthy would not choose COBRA while those who had no other choice would. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk That's not what drove the cost structure, though. Because COBRA by law cost the same as whatever the prior employer was paying for employee group coverage, with a very slight uplift for administrative costs. And the employee could only get it for 18 months, unless he was disabled, in which case he could get it for 36. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Pre-Obamacare, the only way people with preexisting conditions could get an individual policy was through COBRA so there was "adverse selection". Those who were healthy would not choose COBRA while those who had no other choice would. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Ah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 That's not what drove the cost structure, though. Because COBRA by law cost the same as whatever the prior employer was paying for employee group coverage, with a very slight uplift for administrative costs. And the employee could only get it for 18 months, unless he was disabled, in which case he could get it for 36. But group coverage (which was guaranteed for all employees and eligible dependents regardless of preexisting conditions) was more expensive than an individual policy for a healthy person pre-Obamacare. Also it tended to cover more things such as maternity care and prescription drugs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 But group coverage (which was guaranteed for all employees and eligible dependents regardless of preexisting conditions) was more expensive than an individual policy for a healthy person pre-Obamacare. Also it tended to cover more things such as maternity care and prescription drugs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk The thing is, I had no need for the big advantages you mention but no one told me about the options. That's what ticked me off. After theee months on COBRA I figured it out and got what I needed. That's the main reason I posted. And like I said, me and Julius Caesar liked the co-pays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 It will vary depending on state, but I agree that you should look into Medicaid. You'd likely qualify in my state until your dh gets a job, unless he's getting an insane amount of unemployment. Your kids will almost certainly qualify at least, and you could then get coverage for just you two through the exchange and probably get a subsidy to help pay for it. I would definitely look in to Medicaid. When my Dh was laid off last summer, I didn't look closely enough-I just assumed we wouldn't qualify. After about 6 months when dhs UE ran out I did look at it closely and realized qualifying for UE qualified us for Medicaid., I thnk. I was so upset with myself for not investigating sooner that I tried to just let it go. But yes definitely check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 But group coverage (which was guaranteed for all employees and eligible dependents regardless of preexisting conditions) was more expensive than an individual policy for a healthy person pre-Obamacare. Also it tended to cover more things such as maternity care and prescription drugs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk But that's not adverse selection, at all. Adverse selection is when only the sick choose to buy insurance. Most people who are working and have employer coverage are reasonably healthy. But employers get a write off (that before the ACA was unlimited) for what they spend on health insurance for their employees, so it was cheaper for them than for the average citizen to provide excellent coverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 But group coverage (which was guaranteed for all employees and eligible dependents regardless of preexisting conditions) was more expensive than an individual policy for a healthy person pre-Obamacare. Also it tended to cover more things such as maternity care and prescription drugs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Because group coverage had to be offered to every member of the group. Individual policies could be refused. I was turned down by Kaiser because I was pregnant when we tried to get individual coverage in 2005. DH was turned down because he had a hospitalization the prior year. Group prices varied widely. Ours when DH worked at a small firm where the managing partner's spouse had a very expensive cancer battle skyrocketed after her first year of treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 (edited) Good to see. I just signed up with them. Is submitting shareable expenses pretty painless? Yes, which was a big reason why I chose Liberty Healthshare over another company. I can submit my expenses from my phone. I take a picture of my detailed bill and receipt and submit online, all from my phone. Edited April 1, 2017 by Iron Jenny Flint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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