Losing Group Health Ins | Arthritis Information

 

Does anyone know of an organization that can be joined that offers group health insurance? I can't pass the medical for ind health policy underwriting. My COBRA is running out and a HIPPA policy is 2,700 a month for husband and me.

 

Aren't the new healthcare laws supposed to prevent the insurance companies from withholding due to preexisting conditions?  When does that go into effect?

Also, depending on what state you live in - you may qualify for a Plan B high risk health insurance pool.
RNmomInLa2010-05-15 17:57:46The new health reform will help me in 2014. It would help me now but I would have to go without ins for 6 months. I know many other people have faced this problem and found a workable solution. The simplest is to find a job with group health but it is not going well. Marian, Pre-existing hold outs are for those who have NOT been insured for a certain period of time.. if  you have continued insurance.. you can not be turned down for a preexisting condition..  
I've posted the link here before... I'll see if I can locate it again.
Babs,

LEV,

[QUOTE=marian]Babs, HIPAA doesn't provide health insurance, what she's talking about is that HIPAA regulations will prevent an insurer from excluding her pre-existing condition...that quote she's getting is what an insurer wants to cover her with the RA. HIPAA doesn't control premiums.

I know a few people here, pre Mass health reform, who got group insurance through this organization:

http://www.nasro-co-op.com/

It doesn't look like they cover AZ, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

What does her husband do for a living? Is he self-employed? He should try professional/trade associations in his field and the local Chamber of Commerce to see if they know of any group insurance pools he could join.

Does RA have a national association? Some of our kidney failure patients get assistance paying premiums from the National Kidney Foundation and I know that the National Cancer Society helps with premiums for certain types of cancer.

I'm assuming that they earn too much for Medicaid and that she's too young for Medicare.

Move out of AZ to a place that has a high risk pool? Pretty drastic, I know, but some folks have moved to MA to get health insurance, though the higher cost of living here would eat up some of the savings on premiums.

I found this by Googling...I don't know how old it is and if they still offer this but she could call Assurant and ask:

http://www.assuranthealth.com/corp/ah/p ... update.htm

Also, it might make sense to price their plans separately if her husband is healthy. It usually makes financial sense to get family coverage, but is she can find a specialty insurance product for RA patients (like the one above), it might make sense for him to get separate, more basic, individual insurance.

i hope this is helpful... and if I hear more I'll post..

Good luck
Marian, OK LEV I heard you. But I wrote to him about training rhuemys for children because there is a total lack of them in AZ, and what a huge difference early care makes, I just got a form letter reply from his office. It was not even about healthcare.Babs Thank you for all your research. I am checking out Assurant, it might work out for me!