Should I let my medical insurance expire? (pay, charge, dollars)

[mistygrl092]

I am so torn over this. First, I am unemployed and exhausted all COBRA benefits a few months back. I was not aware the law changed a few years back and that now insurance companies can charge up to three times the amount of COBRA for portability insurance (guarantee issue and for those with high risk conditions). My MD says I need some insurance, but I am not insurable in the private sector (yes, I've tried).

I pay $1200 a month (just for myself) and have a $2K deductible with around 70% coverage - something like $5MM cap. They used to offer catastrophic only with a $10K deductible and I had gone for that plan before, but those plans are no longer available. So while I have decent insurance, it's draining my savings. I hope I don't have to sell my house (due to going broke) and will most likely drop the insurance before it would get to that point as I don't think they can take the roof over my head in the event of a medical emergency.

It all seems so unfair as I see medicaid card after medicaid card handed to me on my volunteer job each Thursday by people (often not her legally) who just don't stop having kids.

I do have cash to lose and this house but, like I said, I don't think they can take the house away from me. Thanks for any thoughts.

[golfgal]

Have you looked into getting a job at Starbucks, Kohl's, Target, UPS, etc? Many of those place offer medical benefits to even part time employees. If you let your medical coverage expire even if you get a job with benefits they will be able to deny preexisting conditions because you had a gap in coverage. When the new health care reform kicks in, this will go away, but I don't think this portion will take effect until at least 2012 (not sure exactly when).

Have you applied to your state plan (if available)? I know in our state if you get denied by a traditional carrier you qualify for our state plan (not welfare/Medicare/Medicaid but a state sponsored health plan).

How many individual plans have you applied for and with which companies? Some companies are better then others for offering individual plans for people with preexisting conditions.

Also, keep in mind that one trip to the hospital will cost you more out of pocket then what you are paying annually for your health insurance premiums. Are you prepared to pay that?

[mistygrl092]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Have you looked into getting a job at Starbucks, Kohl's, Target, UPS, etc? Many of those place offer medical benefits to even part time employees. If you let your medical coverage expire even if you get a job with benefits they will be able to deny preexisting conditions because you had a gap in coverage. When the new health care reform kicks in, this will go away, but I don't think this portion will take effect until at least 2012 (not sure exactly when).

Have you applied to your state plan (if available)? I know in our state if you get denied by a traditional carrier you qualify for our state plan (not welfare/Medicare/Medicaid but a state sponsored health plan).

How many individual plans have you applied for and with which companies? Some companies are better then others for offering individual plans for people with preexisting conditions.

Also, keep in mind that one trip to the hospital will cost you more out of pocket then what you are paying annually for your health insurance premiums. Are you prepared to pay that?

To my knowledge the only two places that offer benefits for working PT are Starbucks and Home Depot. I applied at Home Depot but must have flunked their online test, as I never heard from them. I could apply at Starbucks but am not 22.

I have consulted with an insurance broker and TRUST me, I am not insurable anywhere in the private sector. And there is no high risk pool in this state.

So, no, I am not prepared for that one trip to the hospital (and actually did go to the ER in Sept and told them not to run a couple of tests on me as I just didn't want to pay for them and didn't think they were necessary). I guess I'll just keep paying the premiums and look for work. It is very depressing, even though I know others are far worse off. Oh, and this state just passed a proposition exempting itself from mandated healthcare reform. I hate this place but if I leave, I lose the insurance completely. Thanks for your thoughts.

Ok, it would seem I am even more in trouble than I thought...and this thought HAS crossed my mind. Which is easier these days? Finding a job with benefits or finding someone to marry with benefits? BTW, I am not as cute as her...

http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/

[golfgal]

I know that UPS and Kohl's both offer medical plans for part time people. UPS is in a HUGE hiring mode right now too. If you can do the work, physically, for UPS, their drivers are pretty well paid and they have great benefits. I don't know why you think you have to be 22 to work at Starbucks. The one's around here mostly have middle aged people working during the day.

[mistygrl092]

Originally Posted by golfgal

I know that UPS and Kohl's both offer medical plans for part time people. UPS is in a HUGE hiring mode right now too. If you can do the work, physically, for UPS, their drivers are pretty well paid and they have great benefits. I don't know why you think you have to be 22 to work at Starbucks. The one's around here mostly have middle aged people working during the day.

Thanks for the tip on Starbucks. I cannot do the physically demanding stuff that would be required by UPS. Come to think of it, standing on my feet for too long is out too. I can be on them for a couple of hours and then they kill me. So sort of a standing job is out and nothing too physical. But maybe I could train myself to stand for four hours at a time and just soak my feet in epsom salts or something.

Honestly, I may just leave this country and go somewhere where they do have universal coverage. I cannot see myself worrying about this for another 15 years (until I reach Medicare age). Or, going broke is an option too and then maybe I could qualify for Medicaid. At any rate, I need to learn that mindfulness stuff so I don't worry about this 24/7.

I think we are in so much trouble in this country as things stand and I KNOW others have it much worse off and I also KNOW people are planning on ending things before they become homeless. I read other forums.

[sayulita]

Originally Posted by mistygrl092

Honestly, I may just leave this country and go somewhere where they do have universal coverage. I cannot see myself worrying about this for another 15 years (until I reach Medicare age). Or, going broke is an option too and then maybe I could qualify for Medicaid. At any rate, I need to learn that mindfulness stuff so I don't worry about this 24/7.

I think we are in so much trouble in this country as things stand and I KNOW others have it much worse off and I also KNOW people are planning on ending things before they become homeless. I read other forums.

As attractive as that sounds, please know that unless you become a citizen of the country with universal coverage, you WON'T get free medical care. And it's very difficult to get citizenship unless you marry a citizen or have a skill no other citizen has.

On a personal note, I pay a lot for my insurance through the high risk pool in Oregon. I DID have an emergency that ended up costing over $90,000. My out of pocket was $5,000. I'm so thankful I had the coverage. Yes, the premium is depleting my savings, but $90K would have really depleted it! Hang on to your coverage if you can. Anything can happen. It did to me.

[mistygrl092]

Originally Posted by sayulita

As attractive as that sounds, please know that unless you become a citizen of the country with universal coverage, you WON'T get free medical care. And it's very difficult to get citizenship unless you marry a citizen or have a skill no other citizen has.

On a personal note, I pay a lot for my insurance through the high risk pool in Oregon. I DID have an emergency that ended up costing over $90,000. My out of pocket was $5,000. I'm so thankful I had the coverage. Yes, the premium is depleting my savings, but $90K would have really depleted it! Hang on to your coverage if you can. Anything can happen. It did to me.

Are you sure of this? I've had a friend who was in both France and Israel and got free medical care and she isn't a citizen of either.

I have thought about moving to OR as I know you have a high risk pool. If you don't mind my asking, what is the typical premium? Also, I know there are waiting periods in several states and I think OR's is six months. Six months without insurance is a long time. And you're right. Anything can happen - including my being trapped in this state for the rest of my life.

[Vanskills]

You wont lose your house over medical bills....

Worst case scenario: You dont have insurance and you get hurt real bad racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills..

Declare bankruptcy, bam, done deal..start over.

[sayulita]

Originally Posted by mistygrl092

Are you sure of this? I've had a friend who was in both France and Israel and got free medical care and she isn't a citizen of either.

I have thought about moving to OR as I know you have a high risk pool. If you don't mind my asking, what is the typical premium? Also, I know there are waiting periods in several states and I think OR's is six months. Six months without insurance is a long time. And you're right. Anything can happen - including my being trapped in this state for the rest of my life.

I'm sending you a private message.

[harry chickpea]

Since you don't have a job, vote with your feet and move to a state where you CAN get coverage. If you can't do that, move to Florida and protect your house with the strong homestead law there.