Health insurance for the unemployed?

[NHWX]

DH called his soon-to-be-former employer to find out the cost of our health insurance under COBRA. It's stunningly high. Does anyone have any suggestions for reasonable health insurance?

Our state does have a kids-only insurance and I'll be looking into that.

And of course, we're hoping that dh will be employed soon again but I'd rather not count on it.

Thanks,

NHWX

 

[ajk912]

I have NO idea how it works, but I hear about the Obama 65% off COBRA whatever? Anyone know how that works?

 

[NHWX]

I believe the 65% off has run out and we won't be eligible for it.

NHWX

 

[windycitymom]

You can also check out ehealthinsurance.com
I hope your family doesn't have any pre-existing conditions because if you do, they probably won't be able to get insurance. I'm not sure what state you are in, but Illinois has an All Kids Insurance to cover kids and families under age 18 (based on income). Our country needs health care for all!

 

[disneyfans95]

Our country needs health care for all!

Hardly..

 

[johde]

I got my insurance through ehealthinsurance.com also (I work part time). You'll probably want to get it set up before they lose their existing coverage. I decided to get a "high deductible" plan combined with a HSA. Mine for a single person has a $1,500 deductible but then pays 100%. So, it doesn't do well on the little things, but if something major happens, I know the maximum I'll need to pay in a year.

 

[3Minnies2Mickeys]

You can also check out ehealthinsurance.com
I hope your family doesn't have any pre-existing conditions because if you do, they probably won't be able to get insurance. I'm not sure what state you are in, but Illinois has an All Kids Insurance to cover kids and families under age 18 (based on income). Our country needs health care for all!

Agreed!! I never thought much about health insurance until my husband lost his job. Cobra is an expense that will gobble up unemployment benefits very quickly. My husband was very lucky that he found another job with great benefits within 7 months but we had to fly by the seat of our pants (uncovered by insurance) for that period of time. The good news is that we all remained healthy and had no pre-existing conditions to contend with. I will never again take health insurance for granted and I now have compassion for everyone who will choose to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and live without proper health coverage. May you all remain healthy until we have health care for all!

Good luck finding coverage for your family. I hope your husband finds a great job very soon.

Wendi

 

[disfan07]

Agreed!! I never thought much about health insurance until my husband lost his job. Cobra is an expense that will gobble up unemployment benefits very quickly. My husband was very lucky that he found another job with great benefits within 7 months but we had to fly by the seat of our pants (uncovered by insurance) for that period of time. The good news is that we all remained healthy and had no pre-existing conditions to contend with. I will never again take health insurance for granted and I now have compassion for everyone who will choose to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and live without proper health coverage. May you all remain healthy until we have health care for all!

Good luck finding coverage for your family. I hope your husband finds a great job very soon.

Wendi

OT: And it's people like you that make this country so great and that makes me have hope that something good can finally happen.
A lot of people don't get the health care problem because they don't have to use it besides the doctors copays, or minor problems.
I've always believed in helath care for all (or at least affordable health care) but I'm even more sure about it after this year.
Between september of '09 and July of this year, I alone have acquired almost $500,000 in medical bills. WITH insurance we paid about $22,000 of that. I can't imagine what would happen without insurance.

OP: ehealthinsurance would probably be a good bet to find quotes. That's what my brother used when he thought he was going to be kicked off my dads insurance (he's 23) and he found some relatively acceptable rates in north carolina. But unless you get one with a high deducatble or high OOP, it is probably got be very shocking how expensive it is. Also, if you have any pre-existing conditions, they will jack up prices like crazy to cover you. So be careful and shop around. How soon will your husband be unemployed? Set aside enough money for a few months of COBRA coverage only because if you cannot find private insurance before he is let go, you want to be able to pay for COBRA so you do not go uninsured for any amount of time. That can make it even harder to get insurance afterwards.

 

[Luvchefmic]

DH called his soon-to-be-former employer to find out the cost of our health insurance under COBRA. It's stunningly high. Does anyone have any suggestions for reasonable health insurance?

Our state does have a kids-only insurance and I'll be looking into that.

And of course, we're hoping that dh will be employed soon again but I'd rather not count on it.

Thanks,

NHWX

Re-COBRA find out the true cost, meaning ask what the fee will be if you drop the dental and the eyes if his insurance covers it..I never knew that was an option until I asked..I always ASSUMED you had to keep it all if you wanted to keep insurance w/COBRA.there was a significant cost difference..still insanely high but may be another option for you

 

[a742246]

I would check out the unemployment office for your state, and find out if your state has any health insurance options. I know in Vermont we do.

 

[Kellydelly]

When my husband lost his job we put the kids on Medicaid and signed him and I up for a high deductible Blue Cross policy called Flexible Blue. It cost us $220 a month for decent coverage. He was unemployed for 9 months and then thankfully found another job. I hope your stint with unemployment is brief!

 

[clori]

this won't help op but for MA residents check out mahealthconnector.org

 

[Perditamarie]

For kids, check out NH Healthy Kids:

http://www.nhhealthykids.com/

For adults, check out a temporary policy for you and DH:

http://www.anthemfornh.com/index.ph...&wm_g_pcmt=&wm_g_cnt=0&wm_kw=health+insurance

or

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/new-hampshire-health-insurance/health-plans/short-term

Also, consider an accident policy that may be cheaper and help cover costs in case of an accident that is more likely than a health crisis.

Even if these policies have high deductibles/no office visit coverage, etc, they will protect your assets in case of catastrophic illness/accident.

Good luck and hope your DH finds a job soon.

 

[CowboyCO]

Just call your insurance agent and put a short term policy in place for the period of time between benefits. It's pretty cheap. I got one for about $80/month. HIgh deductible, but it covers the catastrophe

 

[Pastamom]

I believe the 65% off has run out and we won't be eligible for it.

NHWX

They extended the 65% coverage (can't remember for how long at the moment)

 

[beansmom]

do ask about a la carte. my medical Cobra was sky high but i was able to keep my dental and vision for about $22 a month without also keeping the major medical.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Several years ago, we were able to get coverage through an alumni group with the college I graduated from. See if there are any group coverages that you can ride with until you can get it with employment. It wasn't the best in the world, but it covered us for big deals.

 

[NHWX]

I did check out the Healthy Kids program and I think we'll be able to cover the kids that way for free. Healthcare for our 2 boys is really important; one cut his finger badly this summer, needed surgery and twice a week physical therapy after that. My dh got his layoff notice on Monday of that week, the surgery was done on Friday. Not a good week!

The stinky part about dropping out current health insurance is that our son has met his annual (high) deductible and would be covered 100% for the rest of the year. At least with the Healthy Kids program, I think we just have to make co-payments.

I checked out ehealthinsurance.com and the Anthem plan also. I think that the Anthem plan is cheaper just through them and not through ehealthinsurance.com but it's probably the one that we start investigating.

Our COBRA payment (I'm assuming this is just for the health care portion because my husband was calling his former employer about just health insurance issues) would be 105% of his unemployment check for the month. That's high.

We'll lose benefits on 8/23.

And thanks for all the good wishes! My heart just sinks whenever I think about what this fall is going to be like. Thank goodness we expanded our vegetable garden this spring.

NHWX

 

[ShariVT]

Hang in there Dh lost his job a year ago after 22 years and is finally back to work this week. Make the people who's job it is to help like unemployment and the HR department at his former job earn there money. Ask lots of questions if you are able to get the 65% our insurance only ended up being 70.00 a month.
Take Care

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

I also lost my Health Insurance for my family when I had to take an early retirement due to health problems,I could only afford to cover myself,& COBRA was out of the question with their rates & so was BCBS. I was forced to put my kids on Kidcare,and my husband has no health insurance either. But, I guess if he get's sick,well go to the hospital and bill the White House-cause I'll tell them Obama said everyone WILL be covered.