COBRA Health Insurance?

[MsMcGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Also, if you read your own post, you've used the words "fee" and "premium" interchangably.

So it would seem.

 

[feynmix]

Originally Posted by imightbechad

Thanks for the replies, guys, even the CE-ish stuff going on in the background. Any ideas for places to shop around? I'm not really familiar with this stuff at all. Chad
Depends on the state that you are living in. I just signed up for AmeriHealth Preferred plan for $249/month. I think the state website has a list of all the health insurance providers that are available in the state. Go through each one and find the one that costs the least. Premiums vary greatly among different providers.

 

[Douglas]

Any talk of costs that leaves out discussion of coverage levels is nearly pointless.

The COBRA insurance is likely pretty comprehensive, meaning you go to see a Dr. and you pony up your $20 co-pay while the real charge was more like $60-100, same with scripts. That's part of why it's likely fairly costly.

As a young healthy person, you should be able to get something that's structured more like real "insurance," where you pay for Dr. visits and scripts fully out of your own pocket, but large events like unexpected injuries or surgeries are covered. And there are also high deductible plans that mean you bear "smaller" costs up to a point but the coverage kicks in for those big-ticket items.

You should be able to get into a plan like this for significantly less than $300/month... I'm thinking half that, but I really don't know for certain. Pio is a legit "health care industry professional" and could probably give you a better answer.

 

[Cavalier]

COBRA is a rip off

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

COBRA is a rip off

Lulz

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

If someone else is not paying 75% of my bill, it's a rip off.

FTFY

 

[Rambo]

Originally Posted by Teger

If someone else is not paying 75% of my bill, it's a rip off
FTFY Pio

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Tiggy

If someone else is not paying 100% of my bill, it's a rip off. I need that $ for jawnz.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

FTFY

Originally Posted by Rambo

FTFY Pio
ftfY, Rambo.

 

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

FTFY

true I just got my Cobra notification, $450/month -- no way would I pay that.

 

[Rambo]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

true I just got my Cobra notification, $450/month -- no way would I pay that.
It's what I'm paying now. Sucks but I'd be fucked without insurance so it beats the alternative.

 

[JP Tod]

When I left my job, my COBRA paymets were $522/month. Toward the end of my coverage, I needed rotator cuff surgery. Fortunately, I was able to time it so that my physical therapy ended at the same time my benefits did.

Unfortunately, I underestimated how difficult getting private insurance is. I've applied twice now (once right after leaving my job and again before I lost COBRA) and I was denied both times (reason = I go to the doctor "too frequently"). IMO, the insurance co's penalize you if you actually utilize your benefits. I had no choice but to join the state's high-risk pool which is basically casualty insurance at COBRA prices.

Bottom line to the OP, don't underestimate the difficulty of getting private insurance after your orthopedic procedure.

 

[imightbechad]

Got it.

I'm going to make sure to apply before I get that op scheduled.

...

 

[Douglas]

This thread is so

 

[imightbechad]

Tell me about it.

 

[globetrotter]

I left a job with a company that had reasonable coverage for a start up, and used cobra. then the start up went bankrupt. during that time, my wife got pregnant, cobra pretty much saved, if not my life, then my ability to retire and not eat dog food. when I got a new job, I hadn't had any uncovered time. we didn't really use the service very much, but it was very good to have.