medical insurance question

[dani0622]

Hi all, wondering if anyone had any experience like this and had any insight. I'll be starting a new job next week and am debating going on COBRA because of the very high cost. My new health insurance won't kick in for 3 months. I've had some stomach issues and had tried to take care of it before I left but unfortunately need to get an endoscopy now and I couldn't get it scheduled for quite a few weeks from now. Now I have two problems, one, I don't really feel comfortable asking for a day off at my new place as soon as I get there, but the other issue I figured maybe I wouldn't go on COBRA because of the high cost and see if the pain subsibes and wait til my health insurance kicks in 3 months to have the procedure done. One of my friends just emailed me this after telling her I was thinking of not getting COBRA and waiting 3 months for the endoscopy:
"You have to do it - otherwise, if your "condition" goes untreated, when you do get insurance again, they will consider it untreated for that time (even if you go to the doctors) and then they won't cover it when you go back afterwards for like 6 months"
Is this true?
Thanks for any input!

 

[kelleigh1]

If your doctor is already aware of your stomach issue and has recommended the endoscopy, the lack of insurance for 3 months will cause this issue to fall under a pre-existing condition and treatment for it will not be covered.

Your best bet, if financially possible, is to continue the COBRA. If you take the COBRA and then cancel when your new insurance kicks in, they can not deny coverage for any conditions because there was no lapse in coverage.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Insurance companies will look at anything they think will fall under the pre-existing condition and hold it against you. If your doc has had you on any meds for it, been dx for it, etc it is likely they will label is pre existing and not cover it.

We had to pay Cobra for 1 month - at $468 for just me. The price ain't pretty but with chronic diseases, I had no choice.

 

[dani0622]

thank you

 

[kelleigh1]

FYI...your friend mentioned 6 months, but a pre-existing condition limitation could last up to 12 months or even 18 months.

 

[dani0622]

Thank you again. Now my main concern would be what if my new company won't let me take the day off for the endosocpy? I know it's quite a while before I am eligible for time off and they only do the endoscopys on Tuesday.

 

[kelleigh1]

I can't help you with that one. You may be able to take it as an unpaid day, but that's up to your HR department.

Here at my office, we have a girl who has been here probably 6 months and it seems that she's taken about 20 sick days - even though we only get 8, and you have to earn those, which I can't imagine she's done.

 

[dani0622]

thanks for everyone's input. Does anyone know if the insurance won't cover it because you had no insurance meaning what if I can't afford the COBRA for the next three months or is that kind of the same situation of pre-existing, etc.?

 

[Feralpeg]

Please consider the risk of going without medical insurance for 3 months. I've known several people who did this and paid dearly for it. One guy started working for our company. There was a waiting period before the company insurance kicked in. He was not covered by other insurance. During this period, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and end up with $60,000 worth of uncovered medical expenses. Another lady started at our company. Same situation. She tried to break up a fight between her cat and a stray. The stray cat bit her hand. She had to undergo rabies shots and got a bone infection. She ended up in the hospital. She had over $15,000 worth of uncovered medical expenses. It took these people years to pay these debts off.

While I would hope nothing would happen to you during this period, what if it did? Are you able to handle the possible expenses? I know Cobra is high. I was on it for a year after I retired. I now pay almost $600 a month for medical insurance, but it is just not something a person can afford to be without.

 

[dani0622]

Please consider the risk of going without medical insurance for 3 months. I've known several people who did this and paid dearly for it. One guy started working for our company. There was a waiting period before the company insurance kicked in. He was not covered by other insurance. During this period, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and end up with $60,000 worth of uncovered medical expenses. Another lady started at our company. Same situation. She tried to break up a fight between her cat and a stray. The stray cat bit her hand. She had to undergo rabies shots and got a bone infection. She ended up in the hospital. She had over $15,000 worth of uncovered medical expenses. It took these people years to pay these debts off.

While I would hope nothing would happen to you during this period, what if it did? Are you able to handle the possible expenses? I know Cobra is high. I was on it for a year after I retired. I now pay almost $600 a month for medical insurance, but it is just not something a person can afford to be without.

WOW!!! I think you may have convinced me.

 

[Kimberle]

Thank you again. Now my main concern would be what if my new company won't let me take the day off for the endosocpy? I know it's quite a while before I am eligible for time off and they only do the endoscopys on Tuesday.

My company would not give a paid day off. But they would let you take a few hours and make up the time. Could you be the first appointment or last appt of the day? If we really needed a day off, they would allow an unpaid day off.

I'd make sure you talk with your new boss as soon as you can.