What can a person do for health insurance if his employer closes down?

Question

My brother-in-law is truck driver and just found out today the company he has worked for over 10 years is filing for bankruptcy and all benefits ceased as of today. Here is his major problem...he had a liver transplant (not from drinking, he contracted hep-c) several years ago and has to go for monthly appointments that accrue around $75,000.00. His next appointment is this Friday, today is Tuesday. What can he do?

Answer 1

Not much.  

I seriously doubt any private health insurance company will be willing to take him on.  

He could check and see if his state has a high risk health insurance pool - and if they're taking new people.  But it's going to cost a way lot, potentially.

He could also get married and go on his wife's group policy through her employer.  Or if he's already married, he needs to see if he can get added on to her policy if she works - or he's got to find a new job PDQ so he can get benefits.

Answer 2

I just came across this website, you may find many useful information on health insurance quotes, hopefully may help you:

http://all-health-insurance-quotes.blogs...

Answer 3

Your brother in law is most likely eligible for a guaranteed issue HIPAA individual health insurance plan.

HIPAA plans cover everyone that meet 6 criteria and HIPAA plans cover all of their pre-existing conditions immediately.

Here is some more information on the 6 requirements for HIPAA:

Answer 4

COBRA, he can temporarily keep his coverage until he gets a new job with benefits, but he'll have to pay for it.

see http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consume...

for more information

Answer 5

i look around on the web and found this site..

Answer 6

He is HIPAA qualified, this means he can purchase a health plan but the rates will be much higher than he is paying now. I would suggest he look at an Health Savings Account. You will get some people telling you HIPAA rates will be thousands per month, well in VA a $5,000 deductible Anthem Blue Cross HSA for a 41 year old male that is HIPAA qualified will run $424 per month. Rates do vary by state.

The most important thing is to get this coverage in effect ASAP. If he goes more than 63 days without coverage he will loose his HIPAA eligibility and he won't be able to get individual coverage at all.

He should start by calling his current carrier, then a broker. If he completes the application today he could be covered by tomorrow.

If he can find another job with benefits his medical condition won't matter since group benefits cover pre-existing conditions. I would not share his medical history with any potential employers even though it would be illegal for them to discriminate against him, they might because the group rates will go up with him on the plan.

you may also find this helpful

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsbankr...