COBRA... do I qualify??

Question

I've been on my dad's health insurance forever. I also have a pre-exsisting condition. I have gotten turned down by individual health care companies as well when applying for myself. I was wondering if I could get COBRA through my dad's insurance company and how that all works. I know eventually I will have to get it through a job (my current job doesn't offer it...) but for the time being I just need my own. I heard it's very expensive. Any idea of a ballpark figure??

Answer 1

http://www.mesastate.edu/finadmin/hr/cob...

No one here can tell you how much this is going to cost.  I'll estimate, though, that for just you, it should run between $200 and $350 a month.

Answer 2

I would talk with a Health care professional.  When all else fails you can get a policy throught the state health insurance shared risk plan.  The state will help you place your case, now coverage may not be as great as a main stream policy but you will have coveage and can take care of your self.  Call a local Health care insurance broker today and find out all your options.  Good Luck

Answer 3

Once you reach the age that your dad's insurance will no longer cover you, you are eligible to receive COBRA. The insurance company should send you notification of termination and COBRA enrollment forms to either elect or refuse coverage. If you have already received a termination notice and have not received COBRA, your dad should talk to his HR dept about getting that initiated.

Since the employer is no longer required to pay any of the premium on your behalf, you are liable to pay the entire premium plus 2% for administrative costs. How much that is varies greatly.

Cobra eligibility and coverage usually lasts 18 months as long as you pay the premium. But you should be aware, that many companies do not send out due bills and once you are past the due date and any grace period for payment, your coverage will terminate and you will not be able to reinstate it.

Nemesis is incorrect in his post about COBRA-you are eligible for coverage as an eligible beneficiary.

Answer 4

COBRA is for the person who was insured through group insurance as an employee. IF you lost your father's coverage within about two months you MAY be able to use the HIPAA law to get on with the plan of your choice as a "guarantor" which means your premium will be HIGH, but it's insurance.

IF your state offers high risk insurance (and even if they do, many times it's closed to new enrollees), you may or may not qualify because while disqualified from plans you may not be "high risk" enough for them.

Have you tried looking at HSA policies? With the high deductible you MIGHT be able to find something.

You COULD also qualify for some med CARE through this:

"Health Centers provide health and dental care to people of all ages, whether or not they have health insurance or the money to pay for health care.  

Find the Health Center closest to you



  

Hill-Burton Free & Reduced Cost Care at hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities are required to provide a specific amount of free or below cost health care to people unable to pay. Eligibility is based on the size of your family and your income. You apply for Hill-Burton care at the facility where you were or will be treated.  

More about Hill-Burton and find facilities in your State"

http://www.hrsa.gov/help/default.htm

There may also be walk in clinics at a grocery or drug store or Walmart in your area or one associated with a medical school or nursing program or the county health folks if you need care before you get this squared away.

It's impossible to guess on how much any policy would cost--varies wildly from state to state, what's covered, etc.

Sensible plan that SHOULD be discussed:

http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.htm...

Check out the PDF.