Health Insurance for Maternity? (how much, buying, deductible)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by juliegt

More info on the coming healthcare exchanges: https://www.healthcare.gov/marketpla...e=pennsylvania

That's awesome that it's a dot gov website. The broker websites always made me nervous.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Hopes

That's awesome that it's a dot gov website. The broker websites always made me nervous.

I hope it's not a fake .gov site! There's a lot of scams out there now. I believe if you go to the pA state website there are links to info on the upcoming changes. I think that's what I posted, but those scammers are sneaky. Verify everything.

[BarqCider]

isnt some sort of new law going into effect where everyone has to get insurance by the end of the year or else pay a fee for not having one?

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

isnt some sort of new law going into effect where everyone has to get insurance by the end of the year or else pay a fee for not having one?

Kinda-sorta. Here's a link to the website that has info: https://www.healthcare.gov/marketpla...e=pennsylvania

There is going to be assistance available for those who can't afford coverage. One great thing, for me at least, is that they can no longer reject me for having a pre-existing condition as of 2014. Right now I can't get health insurance because I have high-ish cholesterol.

[BarqCider]

i wonder...i have kaiser and i know they dont serve pa. given i have diabetes i doubt upmc or something local will take me.

then again i pay $350 for so so medical coverage. just had lab tests and i owe $700. ugh.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

i wonder...i have kaiser and i know they dont serve pa. given i have diabetes i doubt upmc or something local will take me.

then again i pay $350 for so so medical coverage. just had lab tests and i owe $700. ugh.

No Kaiser in PA. I had to get accident insurance with a medical component just to have some kind of coverage. I don't know what kind of state medical aid programs PA has for low income residents. I know you're a student so you might qualify. I'm pretty sure most insurance companies will reject you or charge you a very high premium because of diabetes. I would definitely talk to an insurance agent as well as look into state programs if I were you.

[DaisyDaisy]

Barq, I think you are going to Pitt so this student insurance opportunity might apply to you...
Student Insurance | Human Resources | University of Pittsburgh

Costs...Medical | Human Resources | University of Pittsburgh

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by juliegt

One great thing, for me at least, is that they can no longer reject me for having a pre-existing condition as of 2014. Right now I can't get health insurance because I have high-ish cholesterol.

Do you know what really sucks? There was a federal plan called PCIP available for you, but it stopped taking new applicants in February 2013. Even though it's a federal plan, the premiums vary by state. Living in PA, the premium is $240/month regardless of age. When you lived in CA, the premium would have been $366 or $505 depending on your age.

I only learned about this federal plan today when my health insurance company called. My state plan is being phased out at the end of the month. They called to ask why I hadn't made this month's payment. I told them I didn't see the point in paying for one more month. That's when they told me about this federal plan and everyone who is currently on this state plan qualifies to be transferred to the federal plan, but only if our premiums are paid up to when the state plan ends.

What I want to know is why you and I never heard of this federal plan when it was accepting applicants to everyone? We both were actively searching for insurance last year and doing research. Why wasn't this information getting out where people could find it or learn about it? I lucked out and found a plan in PA for $287, but this federal plan would have been cheaper. I haven't decided if I'm going to enroll. I might decide to go on my husband's plan through his employer instead.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Do you know what really sucks? There was a federal plan called PCIP available for you, but it stopped taking new applicants in February 2013. Even though it's a federal plan, the premiums vary by state. Living in PA, the premium is $240/month regardless of age. When you lived in CA, the premium would have been $366 or $505 depending on your age.

I only learned about this federal plan today when my health insurance company called. My state plan is being phased out at the end of the month. They called to ask why I hadn't made this month's payment. I told them I didn't see the point in paying for one more month. That's when they told me about this federal plan and everyone who is currently on this state plan qualifies to be transferred to the federal plan, but only if our premiums are paid up to when the state plan ends.

What I want to know is why you and I never heard of this federal plan when it was accepting applicants to everyone? We both were actively searching for insurance last year and doing research. Why wasn't this information getting out where people could find it or learn about it? I lucked out and found a plan in PA for $287, but this federal plan would have been cheaper. I haven't decided if I'm going to enroll. I might decide to go on my husband's plan through his employer instead.

I had not heard about any federal plan. There was some kind of CA plan that was for people with pre-existing conditions who couldn't find private insurance. To qualify you had to have had insurance for the past 18 months. i had only had health insurance for the past 12 months. I no longer qualified for the plan I had been on and no private insurer would take me. What galls me is that the reason for denial was that my cholesterol was 238. High, but I'll bet not much different from many other people. I can't even imagine what it's like for someone who has a more serious illness.

[Pittlady]

Thank you guys for all the inputs!

I was wondering further if every private insurance plan having maternity coverage will have all the regular doctor's visits and checkups during pregancy covered, such as ultrasound tests, maternal serum tests, etc. Anyone having such kind of experience? Thanks.