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January 2013 Moms
zonagirlie
member
I need to vent re: health care
zonagirlie
member
Most of you know I had to quit my job two weeks ago and we're moving across the country because my husband is joining the Navy now that he's finished with his degree.
His benefits don't start until Nov. 21st once he's in boot camp. My work insurance ends at the end of Oct. in a week. That leave three weeks and a cross country drive without any insurance for the pregnant lady.
We decided we'd have to use COBRA (just for me since we can't afford to put him on as well) so I filled out the paperwork and try to get it all figured out before we leave. I just got in the quote for coverage in the state of Massachusetts. $600 for one person for three weeks of coverage. WTAMF?! It was supposed to be what my company paid, and here in AZ it was $380 for the month. I know it's more expensive to live on the east coast, but COME ON! That's just BS. A baby born anywhere costs just over 8K, period. It all costs the same! We're barely surviving right now since we both had to quit in order to pack it all up in the next two weeks and drive across country then fly Mr. back to go with his unit. We overdrafted several times in the last two weeks because of moving expenses and having our 12 year old dog get very sick and our cat tearing his ACL.
I am beyond pissed and stressed. It just sucks. We're not packed, my dog and cat are sick, bills are stacking up, I'm exhausted, and now I have to find $600 somewhere before the end of the month.
/rant
Thanks for listening, guys.
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Re: I need to vent re: health care
It would probably cheaper to just pay for any expenses out of pocket temporarily instead of getting on cobra. I know it's a risk a lot of people wouldn't be comfortable with but it's something to think about. The only reason you HAVE to get on cobra is if you'd have issues getting on the new plan after a lapse in coverage. I don't think that's an issue if you're just joining a group plan but I could be wrong.
I don't have any advice on the COBRA thing I just wanted to say I'm sorry and I know how you feel. Pet expenses are always tough. Then throwing in a move and insurance expenses makes it even tougher. Hang in there it will all work out in the end.
Sometimes you can go to a credit union and get a person loan that you can pay off over the next year that will cover everything. The intrest rate is usually low and you wouldhave a year to pay it off. It's not ideal but it might help take some stress off of you.
Hugs...
I don't have any advice on COBRA, but as far as your pets go, if you have ongoing costs you may want to apply for CareCredit. We use it a lot here in Ohio
Its like a credit card for your pet, but you have different interest options, including an option for no interest if you agree to pay it back in a certain amount of time. I'm not sure if your vet accepts it but its worth looking into. It would free up your cash flow for now.
Good luck!
I'm high risk, my son has complications, and we have to be seen asap when we get there. We go every few weeks for anatomy scans so we can't wait. Plus, driving across country without insurance just sounds irresponsible. If I weren't pregnant I'd be fine with it and go to urgent care or something, but bring pregnant, I just can't risk no insurance.
And we have Care Credit but we found it's cheaper to use our Southwest Visa because the rate is lower and we can get travel miles too. Just paying for it all is overwhelming.
So frustrated. Thank you for listening.
Could you apply for state insurance temporarily? Since youre pregnant MA Health would take you right on, I dont know how it would work since youre not a resident yet but if you have an address here and you tell them you are pregnant and uninsured then they may be able to give you some type of coverage?
When I lost my job I called them and told them what day my insurance ended and I had coverage the next day.
I know how you feel...... Dec. 1 I will be on COBRA at $1000/month and I will be on it for at least a few months. Blah!!
However, with COBRA there is normally a timeframe that you have to decide if you want to take the coverage or not. I know that I have 60 days from the first day I am eligible, so I have until around Feb 1 to decide if I want. If I decide Feb 1 that I want it, it back dates to Dec 1 and I pay all of the premiums. I am 99% sure COBRA is all the same (regarding the "rules").... so I would check on that and that way you could wait to decide until Nov 21... if you had a claim and it was less than a grand, skip the COBRA, if it was more than a grand, get the coverage!
I thought I had to get the paperwork in right away. So I could wait and see and if nothing happens then not use it? We have a dr. appt on the 14th so my husband can meet the dr and we can tour the hospital together. I don't think they'll take me if I'm not on insurance.
Ugh, I'm sorry. Insurance is such a flucking joke.
I know we had to look into COBRA when my husband switched jobs in June and I don't even want to say how much coverage was for a family of 3 for the 3-4 weeks that would be affected. Highway robbery. What a racket.
Thankfully, we were able to work the situation out with his new company and I'm STILL so thankful for that. It was definitely a stressful time though trying to figure out what we were going to do and thinking about how much it would cost us to be covered vs. chancing it with me newly pregnant. SO stressful.
((hugs))
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I would for sure talk with HR and find out the specifics on waiting. Can you pospone that appointment until the 21st? I am willing to bet that your one appt. will not cost a grand, so it might be worth it to inform them that your new insurance starts Nov 21 and you will pay out of pocket for that one if you really dont want to change the appt.
Yes, I do believe what mrsodonnell said is true as this is something we considered as well. Look into it really well though because obviously if something were to happen that had a lot of OOP costs you don't want to get stuck holding the bag because of some stupid loophole, you know?
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100% agree- make sure you ask very specific questions and get it in writing.
I really want him there. I think I'll ask about paying out of pocket.
Since health insurance is mandatory in the state of MA, you need to take the cobra coverage, and I think your husband will need to as well. They check for it during tax season, and you need to have proof of coverage with dates. Sorry :-/
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My husband is in the military starting in Nov. so he will have insurance. I will have insurance as well, but during our traveling from AZ to MA I won't have any. That's the issue. We will have insurance as I said in my post. We just won't have it for the three weeks before his benefits kick in.
Key is: DON'T go to the doctor or need medical care during hose 90 days. If an emergency happens get treatment and then send in the paperwork and money. HR will give you all the paperwork.
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