Ahhhh! Need some emotional support please...

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Well just when my DH2B and I were getting the ball rolling on our wedding for next May... it seems that more complications have come up. I just moved to Nashville a couple of months ago and got a new job. WELL.... my wonderful new insurance will not cover my DH2B until he is seizure free for TWO years. This is really upseting to both of us since he is just now beginning pharmacy school and is not able to maintain a full time job, so he doesn't have a way to cover himself either....

We were suppose to already be married last May... and now we're looking at getting married in 2008.

We're going on a few vacations to Disney to just relax and try not to think about his health problems... but I was really looking forwad to finally having our special day.

Sorry to be so whiney but I had to vent somehwere.

 

[Snow_White]

My fiance and I are self-employed, so we have to pay for our own health insurance. We're with BlueCross BlueShield and the prices are very reasonable, so you might want to check them out!

Jennifer

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

That's actually the insurance plan that my company has. They won't pick him up until we have a doctors note saying he has been seizure free for two years. His last seizure was less than a month ago.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Most schools offer insurance to their students at an affordable rate. He should seek out his admissions office for futher information.

 

[eblondie]

Im soooo sorry. Ive read quite a few of your messages and can remember how distraught you were when you had to cancel and how happy you were when you were able to start planning again.
I think you are well deserving of a

 

[ead79]

I’m so sorry to hear about this. Insurance companies can be so harsh when it comes to pre-existing conditions. I think the suggestion to look into getting him insured through his school is a good one.

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

I contacted the company that is available through his school, and they only require him to be seizure free for a year. I'm kind of afraid to still start planning anything now, just in case anything happens. I still have two other insurance companies that are going to get back to me.

 

[ead79]

I’m not sure if this would apply to your future DH or not, but have you tried contacting an organization that deals with his particular health issue? For example, perhaps an association that deals with epileptic people could guide you about insurance issues.

 

[minkydog]

Do you have an HMO option? Most HMOs will cover you after the first 90 days(or less.) Going without insurance is really not a good option when you have a chronic illness. I'm sorry they're being so tooky about this.

 

[tinkerrn]

WOW!! That is not good!!! Being epileptic is a serious condition! From what you are telling us is that he is having active seizures. Does he take meds? Usually with anticonvulsants they do blood tests; those meds can be toxic if level is too high and uneffective if too low. That is very dangerous without insurance, especially if he goes status epileptcus!! That is a state where you continue to seize and need emergency treatment with IV drugs to control seizures. I agree with ead79, contact an organization regarding his disorder. There are so many agencies and programs out there. Good Luck!!!!!

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

I’m not sure if this would apply to your future DH or not, but have you tried contacting an organization that deals with his particular health issue? For example, perhaps an association that deals with epileptic people could guide you about insurance issues.

That is a great idea, I hadn't thought about that. I have worked with an epilepsy foundation here in Nashville when my DH2B and I started dating so I could understand his disorder. I'm sure maybe they could put me directly in contact with a company that could help. Thank you so much, I can't believe I hadn't even thought about that.

 

[DisneyDotty]

So sorry to hear of your insurance woes. We are in serious need of insurance reform in this country! Good luck!

 

[icgymnast]

I am not sure how old your husband to be is but does he qualify to be added back onto his parents insurance? maybe one he already had. I know i was covered under COBRA with my parents while in grad school + certain period of time, & b/c i was under 25? you have probably looked into this but if not, try it.

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

right now he has decent insurance with his parent's... when I looked into COBRA I was told by his mother's work that it would cost $400 a month. I don't know if this is right or not, but at that cost I would rather put the wedding off a year than pay that much for health insurance.

 

[umaangel00]

My mom didn't have to pay a dime for cobra. Either did my dad. I think cobra is more of a keep your insurance for a few months type of thing. It's just so you don't loose your insurance right away when you get fired or leave a job.

 

[Morganpics]

I believe under COBRA the insured person pays both their own share and the company's share. The idea was to provide coverage-not necessarily at a low cost.

 

[InstImpres]

Ashley -

sorry to hear this. I would push further with the insurance company. I know things can vary state to state but in NJ, they can not require you to be seizure free. They could only deny you if you had a lapse in coverage or are not under care. For my x we had to provide a letter from the Dr. that he is under care and meds are being monitored. There was a thing on 20/20 or one of those shows, that insurance companies turn down a certain percentage in hopes people don't persue it (this was for enrollments and claims of exisiting people). They found that more than 90% had to be reversed.

Good luck
Sandy

 

[Heather Smith]

My husband is a type 1 diabetic (supplies and meds run about $350/month), and I know that when we were switching insurance carriers it was very important to make sure there was no lapse in insurance. He was quiting his job and was going to be added to my insurance. As long as the insurance didn't lapse he could be picked up on my insurance without the wait. However, if there was a lapse in insurance of even one day there would have been a wait for preexisting conditions to be covered. To make sure this didn't happen he had double insurance (mine and his) for 15 days. I would think that if he paid COBRA for a month or two until he gets added to your policy (after the marriage), they would not be able to enforce the two year wait.

You and he need to get yourselves fully informed about the ins and outs of medical insurance as these problems are going to be lifelong.

He might want to look into finding a support group. I know the diabetic support group my husband attends (once per month), frequently has experts in to talk about insurance issues. But in addition, he may also find a support group helpful, because no matter how supportive you are, you don't know what it's like to live everyday with a chronic illness. I attend with my husband and also find these meetings very useful. In general, these goups can be a very postive environment for living with an illness.

This of course is my opinion and I hope it helps.

Good Luck!

BTW - I'm old and was just lurking on this board for fun.

 

[AaronandJessica]

Health care in this country sucks. Its so disappointing. I know that you will figure it out. I wish you both the best of luck. We had something similar in our family.

If you need help with any wedding things please email.

Hope all is well.

Jessica