Medical insurance for my 23 year old?

[SuzyQue]

Well our DD finally graduated from college , and in doing so was taken off our medical insurance at the end of 2009. Now, (go figure) she really needs it because her last pap smear was abnormal and she had to squeeze in a colposcopy before the end of the year. Depending on the results, she may need further treatment. On top of worrying about the results, I need help with finding something to help cover some of the costs for her being this will be considered a "pre-existing" condition. Any suggestions?? TIA

 

[quentina]

I know BCBS has plans that are for inpatient/hospitilization only.

Call your insurance agent (auto/home), they may have plans.

Other thing would be CObra on your plan that she is being dropped by. THere is some sort of law that requires it to be passed through if you want to pay for it for XX amount of months.

 

[minniecarousel]

I know that the college that my DSs attended had a policy that graduates could buy into. (we found this out after the fact!) But with pre-existing conditions, you may need to pay into COBRA for her on your policy.

 

[kendall]

Perhaps she should go to grad school.....that way perhaps she can (1) be on your insurance or (2) purchase inexpensive student insurance

Does she have a job since she graduated? Does her new job offer any benefits?

 

[Bluestars]

I think she has 60 days to elect COBRA and continue the insurance she had with you, only with your daughter as the policy holder. Then she should be able to continue that coverage for 36 months, if I am not mistaken.

Of course, COBRA is usually expensive. It is $400 per month for single coverage with our company. But at least she would not be subject to pre-existing conditions.

 

[SuzyQue]

Yes her college does offer alumnus insurance at a discount for 6 months (I think) but not sure if they'll inquire about pre-existing conditions. We foot the bill to get her the Bachelors, she's not in a position financially to start grad school. She does have a job, but no health insurance benefits. Now with the COBRA, I thought I read somewhere recently that it would no longer be offered after 12/31/09? I live in Michigan, and it was an article about our many unemployed continuing their insurance after being let go.

 

[Acklander]

Definitely go with the COBRA on your plan so it will cover pre-exsisting conditions.

 

[disneymarie]

Well our DD finally graduated from college , and in doing so was taken off our medical insurance at the end of 2009. Now, (go figure) she really needs it because her last pap smear was abnormal and she had to squeeze in a colposcopy before the end of the year. Depending on the results, she may need further treatment. On top of worrying about the results, I need help with finding something to help cover some of the costs for her being this will be considered a "pre-existing" condition. Any suggestions?? TIA

Check with BCBS, in PA we have Special careplan under them for dh. Not a problem with health background, can not be excluded. It is based on income but is affordable at $130ish a month. Not medications.

She is going to eventually need a job with benefits or a husband with one...

 

[golfgal]

Go to the website for what ever plan she is on now and sign her up for an individual plan. It will run in the $100/month, give or take, range. Since she will have continuing coverage, pre-existing conditions won't be an issue with the federal portability laws that were enacted a few years ago. Do it soon, like today. She has 63 days with no insurance before it is considered a "gap" in insurance.

 

[disney1990]

Go to the website for what ever plan she is on now and sign her up for an individual plan. It will run in the $100/month, give or take, range. Since she will have continuing coverage, pre-existing conditions won't be an issue with the federal portability laws that were enacted a few years ago. Do it soon, like today. She has 63 days with no insurance before it is considered a "gap" in insurance.

Really? $100? Definitely not the case here in Maryland.

 

[Bluestars]

Yes her college does offer alumnus insurance at a discount for 6 months (I think) but not sure if they'll inquire about pre-existing conditions. We foot the bill to get her the Bachelors, she's not in a position financially to start grad school. She does have a job, but no health insurance benefits. Now with the COBRA, I thought I read somewhere recently that it would no longer be offered after 12/31/09? I live in Michigan, and it was an article about our many unemployed continuing their insurance after being let go.

I think you are referring to the COBRA subsidy. That is where the government foots the bill for a portion of the COBRA when an employee involuntarily loses his or her job.

COBRA itself is a different story. As long as a company has a certain number of employees, the employees or their dependents will always have the option of continuing the same coverage on COBRA for 18 to 36 months, depending on the reason for their loss of coverage.

A dependent who loses coverage because they no longer meet the dependent status, should be able to continue the coverage for up to 36 months. But the cost of the COBRA coverage is usually high, because the employer will no longer be paying a portion of the insurance premium for the COBRA participant. The cost varies from plan to plan and company to company.

 

[daughtersrus]

Congrats to your DD! My DD also recently graduated (Dec 12th). We weren't sure what we were going to do either as our insurance drops dependants once they turn 23yo (her birthday was right after graduation). At the suggestion of others here, I checked with the university where she graduated. Sure enough health insurance has been part of the tuition. The policy doesn't expire until the second week in Jan. After that, we can continue the coverage with them for $161 until May 6, 2010. I was shocked as it was going to cost $879 a MONTH for COBRA through DH's union office.

The lady at the school told me that after May, if she still needs insurance to check with gradmed.com. As long as the college/university is part of the group the insurance is pretty reasonable. A six month policy with a $500 deductible is about $700. Of course we're hoping that she finds a teaching job so that we won't have to worry about that. She's got a second interview on Tuesday for a part-time teaching job but they offer benefits. We're keeping our fingers crossed!

 

[golfgal]

Really? $100? Definitely not the case here in Maryland.

For a 23 year old--most likely it is the case.

Ok, I was wrong, I went to https://carefirst.inshealth.com/ehi/individual-health-insurance.fs

put in a quote for a 23 year old living in Elkton Maryland and plans start as low as $44/month, I guess $100 was too much. A REALLY nice plan is around $90/month. Here that plan would be about $125/month.

 

[DawnCt1]

We had to COBRA DS#1 when he returned to school full time.The school did not offer insurance and he has a preexisting condition. The cost is pricy, $527 per month. He will graduate in May and in all probability, will get a job with insurance. DS#3 graduated and we were able to get him a BCBC Tonik plan with dental for $180 per month or so.

 

[Acklander]

For a 23 year old--most likely it is the case.

Ok, I was wrong, I went to https://carefirst.inshealth.com/ehi/individual-health-insurance.fs

put in a quote for a 23 year old living in Elkton Maryland and plans start as low as $44/month, I guess $100 was too much. A REALLY nice plan is around $90/month. Here that plan would be about $125/month.

yeah, but unless it's a state run plan, she'll probably be denied due to the pre existing condition. That's the problem I always run into, they give me a fair quote on the price, but deny the insurance.

 

[LMC]

We got a notice several months ago that BCBS of Alabama was going to let children stay on a policy up until age 25 student or not. This was a relief to us because we have special needs child who is almost 15 and we don't know if he will go to college or not and so far he does not qualify for any gov't type assistance.

 

[Bluestars]

LMC, I know all insurance policies are different, but ours covers disabled children for as long as they are considered disabled. The dependent can be 30 and still on the employee's policy if the dependent is considered disabled. But that might not be the case with other insurances.

 

[kafitty]

i just wanted to give a for your daughter - i had to go through all of the stuff with having an abnormal pap smear, and NONE of it was a good time. i hope her colposcopy results turn out favorable.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think the best bet would be to have her COBRA on your insurance until she is able to get on to a group plan through her employer. If there is no gap in coverage, there should not be a problem with preexisting conditions when she goes on to another group policy. If there is a gap in coverage, waiting periods will apply when she gets on to another group policy which will deny coverage for a certain time period, possibly all together.

An individual policy may use pre-existing conditions to deny coverage.

Our state does have a state-based plan for individuals which is fairly reasonable. Inquire whether Michigan has such an opportunity.

BTW - COBRA did not end December 31, neither did the COBRA subsidy, as Congress passed an extension.

You should go to the HR department where your family policy is through, and find out what COBRA coverage will cost. Also, what does your DD have to do to get group coverage through her job?

Good luck to you and your DD.

 

[disney1990]

For a 23 year old--most likely it is the case.

Ok, I was wrong, I went to https://carefirst.inshealth.com/ehi/individual-health-insurance.fs

put in a quote for a 23 year old living in Elkton Maryland and plans start as low as $44/month, I guess $100 was too much. A REALLY nice plan is around $90/month. Here that plan would be about $125/month.

This is not offered in Mississippi where OP lives.