insurance.

JaiLou8833

So I'm usually a lurker, but I have a queation.
Insurance is something that confuses the crap outta me lol.
That's the reason I don't have it. I could have gotten it through work but I never got to fill out the right papers and I ended up missing the deadline and now it sounds like I can't get it through work until next year ?
Anyway, what are some other ways I can get it and how expensive is it ? I'm looking for health dental and eye.
Can anyone help me lol
Thanks.

mkc3888

You can call insurance companies in your area.  I believe the affordable care act insurance is in open enrollment now.  I do think it is very expensive if your employer offers insurance.  good luck!

Xstatic3333

I'm going to be a little "tough love" here-you NEED to get health insurance. Like, today. Dental is great too, but prioritize getting health done. One car accident or illness can throw you into bankruptcy without it.

Ok, next step is to find your state's Affordable Care Act health exchange website. Googling should reveal this. Look at the plans and chose one. They are ranked from bronze (cheapest, but least coverage) to gold (more expensive, more coverage). Many states will have several companies competing against each other, I.e. choices. Scroll through, click on things, and see which one you like and can afford. If you're TTC soon, I'd strongly consider a silver or gold plan if you can swing it.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure ACA subsidies are only for people who don't have a work healthcare option, so you'll probably need to pay the full amount listed monthly. It will probably make sense to switch to your work's plan next open enrollment. Ask HR or your supervisor if you need help with the paperwork.

If you have specific questions about different plans and what it all means once you find your ACA website, I'll plug another board I participate on, Money Matters on TN. Lots of friendly, knowledgeable people there who know more about this stuff then me.

Again, I know it can be confusing, but I really urge you to do this today. Good luck! The peace of mind will be worth it.

SusieG85

I'm going to second the above posts - it's really important to have insurance. My job brings me in contact with lots of people who are hurt/sick and many of them don't have insurance. You don't even want to know how much an ER visit costs without health insurance! For your peace of mind and health please look into @Xstatic3333's advice asap.

als1982

Echoing the previous posters, you need to get insurance ASAP, not only to protect your health and financial future but in the interest of public responsibilty. I'm not sure your exact situation, but I recall you being very young. If your situation fits, you may be able to get added to one of your parents plans.

I'm just going to be an asshole and say it: Please wait to have children. If you're not responsible enough to handle things like this, you are not ready, not even close. Your future kids (and you!) deserve a mom who is personally and financially responsible.

myjessesgirl

Have you talked with HR directly? I would first exhaust all your work resources before switching to ACA plans (which, quite frankly, are anything BUT affordable). If you really cannot sign up through your job and the open enrollment with them is at a different time, then you would have to go through the healthcare.gov marketplace. It is a headache, so I would definitely recommend ensuring that all other options are out before pursuing that route. As PP mentioned, though, you will really want insurance if you're TTC. It can cost upwards of $10,000 for a normal, uncomplicated hospital birth with prenatal care. So the high premiums are potentially worth it in the end.

Katm89

I'm really bad you guys, I pay for our own health insurance with a high deductible instead of paying for our work insurance.. like 450 a month... right now we paid 43! So, we decided to sign up on our work insurance when we get a BFP. Saves us a lot of money to wait and its considered a qualifying event by HR. I agree with PP you should have something though!

Xstatic3333

Katm89 said:

I'm really bad you guys, I pay for our own health insurance with a high deductible instead of paying for our work insurance.. like 450 a month... right now we paid 43! So, we decided to sign up on our work insurance when we get a BFP. Saves us a lot of money to wait and its considered a qualifying event by HR. I agree with PP you should have something though!

Nothing wrong with a HD plan if it works for you! You just need something. They're a good deal for many young, healthy people without kids.

anj27

Katm89 said:

I'm really bad you guys, I pay for our own health insurance with a high deductible instead of paying for our work insurance.. like 450 a month... right now we paid 43! So, we decided to sign up on our work insurance when we get a BFP. Saves us a lot of money to wait and its considered a qualifying event by HR. I agree with PP you should have something though!

For some reason I thought you could not buy insurance on the exchange (I don't know if that's what you are doing or not) if your company offers insurance, but I am seeing now that that is not the case, just that you may not qualify for a subsidy. I'm going to look into it during this enrollment period because the insurance offered to me is so crappy, it would be good to see what my other options are. 

Katm89

@anj27 the first time we enrolled we didn't have any offered through my job and when I joined they offered it but we already had coverage... this time we decided to wait til I'm pregnant... and continue buying it..good luck on your search.. I know its frustrating.

anj27

@Katm89 Thank you. I am going to poke around and see what my options are. My current insurance has gotten slightly better with ACA because they are required to cover more things, but the deductible is super high it hardly seems worth it, just a step above not having insurance. I am lucky though that my company pays for it in full so I wouldn't mind if I could talk them into giving me that amount so I could contribute towards a better plan. 

LitlePrety

@Katm89 I thought you can only sign up for insurance through your employer during open enrollment?  So timing would have to be just right.  (The exceptions being beginning a new job, birth - so baby could be added to your existing plan, death, and divorce.)  If there is another exception I have never heard about it or it's new!  

Katm89

@LitlePrety... My HR told me that certain things are qualifying life events to enroll during anytime in the year... getting pregnant is one of them, so I am lucky enough to be able to wait.

TalulaPants

Getting pregnant is not a qualifying life event under the IRS. I'd go back to HR if I were you.

Katm89

@TalulaPants our HR has confirmed that is it a qualifying event.

Katm89

https://www.uhc.com/individual-and-family/health-insurance-basics/qualifying-life-events

Xstatic3333

Katm89 said:

https://www.uhc.com/individual-and-family/health-insurance-basics/qualifying-life-events

Hmmm, I'd interpret that as the birth being a qualifying event, not the pregnancy. If they do consider a BFP a qualifying event, that's a special benefit from your company, and pretty unusual.

Katm89

You guys are so right! I just enrolled today the last day of enrollment. You guys really saved my ass!

Xstatic3333

Katm89 said:

You guys are so right! I just enrolled today the last day of enrollment. You guys really saved my ass!

WOW. Yay! Glad TB could come in handy and that OP got this conversation going (though I'm pretty sure we scared her off).

LitlePrety

Katm89 said:

You guys are so right! I just enrolled today the last day of enrollment. You guys really saved my ass!

So glad you double checked on that!

Katm89

Yea me too guys!

strickland8052

Most open enrollments are going on now, so I'd double check with HR to be 100% sure you can't sign up right now.

If your open enrollment has already ended, maybe check with your husband's? (if you are married)

If not that, check into the ACA website. You might be able to get it... but do all of this ASAP, because most open enrollment periods end in mid-November.