Due aug 31st, and just found out we loose our insurance sept 1st..vent

Kcirar726

Well I just found out my husbands company decided to get rid of their insurance plan because not enough people were using it, and the ones that were, were putting the rates through the sky. So they give us 3 weeks notice that were on our own. Im so upset. I was planning a vbac, but know I have to schedule a just in case csection to ensure we are out of the hospital by the 1st. Im praying baby decides to come on her own before the csection so I can still have the birth i've been invisioning.  Sorry just had to vent. Im so stressed out about this. Just what I need, a newborn and no insurance.

Matt Dvorak

can you look into cobra? https://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

You might have to pay more for the month or two you would choose to extend the insurance, but I'm sure whatever you'd pay would be far less than out of pocket and very much worth it for this situation. 

laurahastings

Did they mention COBRA?  Start researching now for an independnt replacement to start September 1st!

CA2006

Yes, COBRA will be your best bet.  It allows you to pay for the full cost of the premium and keep your same insurance.  You will want to do that for a month, at the very least.  You will probably not get good maternity coverage through any independent options, so even if the rate for COBRA seems high, it will still save you a lot more than paying out-of-pocket. 

1plus1equals3

I hope it all works out for you,,, Dont stress though,, its not worth stressing,,

JaysonandKristin

CA2006:

Yes, COBRA will be your best bet.  It allows you to pay for the full cost of the premium and keep your same insurance.  You will want to do that for a month, at the very least.  You will probably not get good maternity coverage through any independent options, so even if the rate for COBRA seems high, it will still save you a lot more than paying out-of-pocket. 

Have your DH get into his HR department now for the paperwork to get COBRA coverage.  You can keep this uncontested for 18 months, and up to 36 months or so if you or anyone on your plan is declared disabled by Soc Sec.

At the very least, pay the high premium for the month of September and avoid the full cost of delivering if you want your VBAC. 

Kcirar726

Good idea, I'll have him get info on cobra.

christinaramirez08

FYI, COBRA will NOT be an option if the employer is no longer offering health care coverage to the employees. Your only other option would be HIPP (Health Insurance Premium Payment Program). It's available for those who have exhausted their COBRA benefits or if an employer decides to cancel their group plan.

Here is a link I found for California residents. But do some research of your own and/or ask your HR department.

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/TPLRD_CAU_cont.aspx

cZa

I would do some research because I do not believe they can give you such a short notice. I believe it is against the law in some states.

christinaramirez08

christinaramirez08:

FYI, COBRA will NOT be an option if the employer is no longer offering health care coverage to the employees. Your only other option would be HIPP (Health Insurance Premium Payment Program). It's available for those who have exhausted their COBRA benefits or if an employer decides to cancel their group plan.

Here is a link I found for California residents. But do some research of your own and/or ask your HR department.

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/TPLRD_CAU_cont.aspx

Correction - It's not your only other option. You could look into individual plans, but those almost always have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions of about 6 months and being pregnant would be a pre-existing condition. However some individual plans can actually be cheaper than group plans.

ababymaybe

I think you need to find something for after LO arrives regardless of what delivery route you go. You will need your 6 week post-partum checkup and what if you have complications after birth?

grace_smith03

I don't know a thing about insurance...but you have a preexisting condition?  Perhaps it gives you a grace period?

Alternatively, being induced?  I know it sounds whacky, but inductions have been done for less valid reasons.

emmyloustu

COBRA should be an option, but likely a very pricey one. You also want to research what your state offers based on income guidelines. Some states have plans that make sure pregnant moms and infants are covered 100%, others have a sliding scale where your premium is adjusted based on what you make. It NY, the program is called Child Health Plus. 

We lost coverage a month after DD was born and I had to negotiate out of pocket pricing with her pediatrician, which was pricey. Ultimately, DD qualified for state health care while DH was out of work. It was just a 3mo period of time that she needed it, but thank goodness for it because she ended up needing extensive testing and eventually surgery.

julireye

Federal law bars pregnancy from being considered a preexisting condition, which means if you change health plans while you're pregnant, your new insurer can't deny claims related to your pregnancy. You should look into COBRA or a short term health insurance plan, it is only good for six months but it is usually cheaper than COBRA or a permanent plan.

Temp574971250006741

Rather than a csection look into being induced. My OB will induce 7 days prior to due date even though she does not like to.

 

When DH lost his job we looked into short term health coverage. Each policy is different and pregnancy was not covered on the one we had. It was via blue cross bue shield but they had many policy options that covered the whole family. Look into it for sure.  We had looked at the COBRA pricing and it was like $1,000 a month, the short term was like $275 for 3 months.

myeshabride

How stressful!  Try Kaiser Permanente too...they offer individual plans.

stabil19

CA2006:

Yes, COBRA will be your best bet.  It allows you to pay for the full cost of the premium and keep your same insurance.  You will want to do that for a month, at the very least.  You will probably not get good maternity coverage through any independent options, so even if the rate for COBRA seems high, it will still save you a lot more than paying out-of-pocket. 

COBRA is very expensive.   Mine would cost me 1200+/month for me alone!  So, I am going to get on my husband's insurance.  Good luck!  I know it is going to be expensive.  I hope your LO comes before naturally!