Question about timing of health ins purchase

[kaguilbeau]

For the past few months, my oldest daughter has not been covered by health insurance (since she became ineligible for our family coverage). I figured I would just pay out-of-pocket for any doctors visits - and if she became seriously ill, she would have to use the Charity system in our town. It is a risk to be uninsured, but I know many do it. The plan was to purchase insurance as soon as she got a job.

Now she is screaming that she needs insurance - and quick - because she has a self-detected lump in her breast.

I don't see how you can rush out and just purchase insurance and immediately have it go into effect. Insurance should be purchased before any conditions are discovered.

I'm interested in hearing from someone that might have experience with this, maybe someone that sells individual policies or otherwise has had experience.

 

[Nancy]

Not sure how long it would take to go into effect or what questions they ask when you enroll in individual coverage. The only thing I would advise is not mentioning the lump...after all it has not been diagnosed by doctor so it is not pre-existing since it is not documented anywhere.


Here is a site that might help


http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/

 

[golfgal]

Tell her to NOT got into the doctor and apply for a GOOD plan NOW. The plan will go into effect the day of application if you pay for the first month while it is in underwriting (it will be retroactive). It might take a month or more for it to go through underwriting though. The fastest way is to apply for an individual plan with the same company that did your group plan so they have all her records. The could be done in as quick as a week.

Individual plans for a young person cost around $100/month, really not worth going uninsured. Now that she has had a gap in coverage (unless it is less then 60 days since she went off your plan then it isn't a gap) she can be denied coverage for preexisting conditions where as without a gap they can't.

Stay off the e-insurance type sites because you really don't want to farm your health insurance out to the lowest bidder on an internet site because you don't know who or what kind of coverage you will get. Go with a carrier in your area that is large and has a good network of dr's to choose from (in our are it would be Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Health Partners).;

 

[DebbieB]

Watch out for deductibles and coinsurance. Cheaper plans can have high deductibles and coinsurance.

 

[DawnCt1]

When we purchased a plan for DS#3, they wanted to know how long he went without health insurance. He didn't. We knew he was coming off and while he insisted that he didn't need it, it wasn't worth the risk. We got one with a high deductible for hospitalization. ($1500). The chances of him being hospitalized is certainly minimal and by paying for a cheaper policy, we make up the deductible difference of $500, in 10 months. His plan includes dental with two cleanings per year. We pay $163 per month. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tonik Plan. They take a credit card and we are billed to the CC each month automatically.

 

[kaguilbeau]

Thanks for the feedback. I had gotten quotes from our group insurance (Blue Cross/blue Shield). The gap has been about six months now. What I looked at doing for her was the high deductible with the health saver plan (that is what we have for our family).

I wish she could get a job that offered insurance benefits!

 

[smiley]

Now that she has had a gap in coverage (unless it is less then 60 days since she went off your plan then it isn't a gap) she can be denied coverage for preexisting conditions where as without a gap they can't.

I'm asking you this since you seem to understand the health insurance industry. My husband and I are moving out of state and looking at insurance options. We were told by an insurance broker not to bother applying for Blue Cross/Blue Shield due to my husband having had a kidney removed in 2000. His kidney had a lump, was removed, lump evaluation showed a low grade cancer (less than 1% chance of recurrence). No other follow-up treatment. Other than testing to see if any more cancer symptoms are present (there haven't been).

We've never had a gap in insurance and he is healthy otherwise, are you saying that we should go ahead and apply for the BC/BS and they would be required to accept him? I know this is a scaled down version of a long boring story, but could you please give me your knowledgeable opinion?

Thanks,

Julie

 

[golfgal]

I'm asking you this since you seem to understand the health insurance industry. My husband and I are moving out of state and looking at insurance options. We were told by an insurance broker not to bother applying for Blue Cross/Blue Shield due to my husband having had a kidney removed in 2000. His kidney had a lump, was removed, lump evaluation showed a low grade cancer (less than 1% chance of recurrence). No other follow-up treatment. Other than testing to see if any more cancer symptoms are present (there haven't been).

We've never had a gap in insurance and he is healthy otherwise, are you saying that we should go ahead and apply for the BC/BS and they would be required to accept him? I know this is a scaled down version of a long boring story, but could you please give me your knowledgeable opinion?

Thanks,

Julie

It depends. That is about as helpful as I can get. I know in our state the answer would be yes but some states that might not be not so. Also, I know in our state if he would get rejected for health insurance he would be eligible for the state plan and would go on that (which is actually a really good plan). Not all states have this option. In our state there is no reason someone shouldn't have medical insurance but many people don't because they won't pay for it--the state plan has a sliding scale for premiums.

For something that happened 9 years ago-it is hard to say. There is no reason NOT to apply though.

 

[smiley]

It depends. That is about as helpful as I can get. I know in our state the answer would be yes but some states that might not be not so. Also, I know in our state if he would get rejected for health insurance he would be eligible for the state plan and would go on that (which is actually a really good plan). Not all states have this option. In our state there is no reason someone shouldn't have medical insurance but many people don't because they won't pay for it--the state plan has a sliding scale for premiums.

For something that happened 9 years ago-it is hard to say. There is no reason NOT to apply though.

Thanks, we are relocating to Florida from California and our only real concern is health insurance. I do appreciate your insight and we are planning on applying for the BC/BS insurance. I guess all they can do is say no, but for us that is a big no.

We are semi-retired and were not planning on working once we arrived in Florida. However, if we are turned down by an insurance company I am planning on applying for a part-time job with a company that offers health insurance to employees.

I do appreciate you taking the time to address my question.