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Well, you should not have trouble enrolling in COBRA if you're still within the window. Of course, the premium will not be low. Plus, there are probably copays and deductibles on your old insurance which need to be considered.
So, doing a cost/benefit, 3 months COBRA, plus copays/deductibles - v. no coverage and working out a payment plan with the providers. Either way it will cost you.
Ambulance, ER at one hospital and then a second hospital visit/stay. You're looking at bills totalling many thousands, I expect.
Sorry about the misunderstanding Marykate 1. I somehow assumed you had not started your new job yet.
Glad your son is OK. It is very risky today to take chances with healthcare like you did. One thing that I can tell you is that for most people, an illness strikes without warning all too often.
One day you think you are perfectly healthy and the next day you find out you have cancer or you have stroke. No one ever thinks these things are going to happen to them or their loved ones. But they do, and they usually come without any warning. (even for vegetarians, with perfect weight who never smoked )
OP should examine the cost of that COBRA v. what it will actually pay. If she is paying COBRA for family/dependent coverage, premium probably will be in the area of $800/mo., at least. The only reason I use such a low number is OP is in TX. So, that's $2,400 minimum for COBRA, then copays/deductibles, in/out-of-network issues, balance billing.
Example:
Say total costs are $5,000, less deductible of $2,500, leaves balance of $2,500.
Plan pays 80% - best case in-network = $2,000.
You still owe $500 ($2,500 - $2,000)
plus $2,500 deductible
plus COBRA premium of $2,400 -
puts you back to paying more than the full amount - or $5,400.
Assuming you understand your coverage - which many people do not - do the numbers. It might be better to try to negotiate w/hospital. Many hospitals will reduce their charges and stay off your back for very small, regular payments.
Of course, at this point you have no idea what the numbers are for the ambulance and two hospitals.
If only we had better healthcare/universal health in USA then I did not have to worry about these situations.
Oh come off it already!
You wouldn't have had to worry about this if you had elected to continue your prior heath insurance via COBRA. You didn't do that. You gambled with your family financial future by not being covered! You had the power and control in your hand yet decided (for whatever reason) that having health insurance was not a priority in your life especially since you appear to have had the resources available.
Quote:
Originally Posted by marykate1
My son is fine and that is a big relief. I am not low income. It is just that I am in between jobs and my new job health insurance starts in 9 days. I called COBRA today and I am trying to enroll. Today is actually the last day that I can enroll for COBRA and it will cover from SEP, OCT and NOV.
I do own a house and two cars and I live in TEXAS.
Also, I am NOT out of work. I am currently working. As indicated earlier my new health insurance will kick in 9 days.
I am glad your son is fine, but know that your decission to not continue coverege falls solely and only on YOUR shoulders.
But in the end Europe pays for it and that coverage is very managed as to qualifying for what. That is why so many pay out of pocket which is also allowed to get healthcare on demand and have provider choice. There really is no free lunch; someone pays and often its thru taxes. America like others has more and more who want a free lunch with someone else paying the tab. Once it gets too expensive; its borrowed; shown as per centage of GDP in debt. That is selfishly passing the tab on to your children; plain and simple. Some call it generational greed
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