DH cancelled the insurance

[dex_millie]

I was here recently asking about getting our own. I came to the conclusion to keep it. But found out today DH had cancel it. I am not sure when he did it and he is sleeping right now. I don't know how he taught with all my talking that we would have to keep this one because I am a catosophe waiting to happen(according to the ins. because I am pregnant) that I still wanted to go through with it. Anyways now we don't have any. And he is not sure when he could get back on the insurance, I guess we will just wait and see if it can happen before April. My midwife was going to be covered by it also. Now I am wondering if I can just get for DS alone or DH and DS.

Any advice

[SuzyLee]

It kind of depends how much money to have to spend on insurance and whether your DS would qualify for CHIP or anything. I mean, if you have an extra 1000$/month in the budget, go buy yourself a nice family insurance plan. But I am assuming this wouldn't be an issue if you had the extra cash.

[phathui5]

Huh? Why did he cancel the insurance? This is the kind of thing we discuss first.

[sbgrace]

Wow. I don't know how to handle the midwife issue.
You can possibly get pregnancy covered under a WIC type program; I'm not sure your income situation though. Similarly you might check into public programs for the kids.
I'd get a catastrophic policy ASAP for the family in case something big happens like an accident or serious illness.

[D_McG]

do you qualify for medicaid?

[Knittin' in the Shade]

you're pregnant and DH cancelled your health insurance?!?! Wow. I would be on the phone trying to get medicaid coverage right now. You should be able to get CHIP for your kids, but you might have to pay for it.

[pbjmama]

Sometimes they don't actually cancel it until your next payment was due. I would call to find out.

[earthmama369]

Wait...you're pregnant and your husband canceled your health insurance without telling you?

...I don't even know what to say.

If you can't get your insurance reinstated, many states have a health insurance program for pregnant women and children, if you meet the income guidelines. But they may not cover your midwife.

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

Wait...you're pregnant and your husband canceled your health insurance without telling you?

...I don't even know what to say.

If you can't get your insurance reinstated, many states have a health insurance program for pregnant women and children, if you meet the income guidelines. But they may not cover your midwife.

Besides to throttle him? That's what I'd say. Was this insurance he got through work? If so, have him reinstate you asap. If it was private insurance, RUN to medicaid and hope they will accept you. It is next to impossible to get on private insurances with "pre-existing conditions", which is what they consider pregnancy.

[skybluepink02]

I would do anything I could to keep insurance. We're lucky, we've got insurance through DH's work.

However, In May, we found out that DH (age 27) needed major open heart srugery. He's always been healthy and we're in the age and health group that would make not having health insurance, while not ideal, at least not too much of a horrible idea.

Now, he's post heart surgery, still having a few issues, but the total bill for his surgery was over 300,000 dollars. There is no way we'd be able to pay that, if we didn't have health insurance.

You just never know. What if one of your babies is a preemie and needs surgery and NICU to stay alive? Or you get a serious medical condition, of DH... If you can possibly cut out anything else to keep health insurance, I would. It's just so important.

[odenata]

Originally Posted by Equuskia

It is next to impossible to get on private insurances with "pre-existing conditions", which is what they consider pregnancy.

This is not true. Pregnancy, by federal law (HIPAA), can not be considered a "pre-existing condition."

(3) EXCLUSION NOT APPLICABLE TO PREGNANCY. A group health plan, and health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion relating to pregnancy as a pre-existing condition.

I agree with others, you need to get back on an insurance plan ASAP.

[MisaGoat]

From what I understand Pregnancy can be a reason to exclude you from coverage if you are going from group insurance to private insurance. If you are going from group insurance to group insurance they have to cover you. When you buy insurance for your family, not through work the insurance can decide if they want to take you or not.

I left my job when I was pregnant and tried to get private insurance on my own and I couldn't get it. I ended up doing a COBRA like extension of my insurance.

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by odenata

This is not true. Pregnancy, by federal law (HIPAA), can not be considered a "pre-existing condition."



.........................................

Would that be true in Maryland too.

At first when we heard how much the insurance was going to be we decided to look for private insurance but then the place I called said that they cannot give a pregnant women health insurance (then he compared it to someone who has cancer trying to get insurance). So after finding this out I told DH that we will have to keep his insurance because of it and at least it covers the midwife. I am not sure when he cancelled it, if it was during or first talk or after but I talked about keeping the insurance many times after and only yesterday I heard about it being cancelled.

The insurance was from his job. He is going to find out when he can be add it back on. We could pay for the midwife but I wanted it for security incase anything else happened.

We wouldn't qualify for goverment programs and I wouldn't want to do it. I figure that they would be monitoring me. But I guess then I would have to visit both them and a midwife and just have them for backup incase anything goes wrong.

He thinks the insurance is too much (so do I though). I don't even know what to say yet. We are from places where people rarely carry insurance so that doesn't help w/ this situation eighter.

I am thinking to keep it until the baby and then look for cheaper insurance. I will see how it goes when I talk to him later.

[ChattyCat]

Originally Posted by odenata

This is not true. Pregnancy, by federal law (HIPAA), can not be considered a "pre-existing condition."



I agree with others, you need to get back on an insurance plan ASAP.

That applies to group plans (like what employers typically offer), not to those you purchase on your own.

[dex_millie]

So it wasn't really cancelled, he waived it when filling out the papers for his new job. Not sure when is the time he can be added on now. I know the job I work for when I had benefits was from July-July, hope this one is different.

[D_McG]

Originally Posted by dex_millie

So it wasn't really cancelled, he waived it when filling out the papers for his new job. Not sure when is the time he can be added on now. I know the job I work for when I had benefits was from July-July, hope this one is different.

What does that mean? You're either insured or your not. He waived what, exactly?

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by D_McG

What does that mean? You're either insured or your not. He waived what, exactly?

He just got a new job, and they offer insurance and he decided NOT to take it, so he waived the health insurance offer (declined it). So we don't have insurance w/ this new job. In other words we didn't have it as yet, I taught we did.

[D_McG]

Originally Posted by dex_millie

He just got a new job, and they offer insurance and he decided NOT to take it, so he waived the health insurance offer (declined it). So we don't have insurance w/ this new job. In other words we didn't have it as yet, I taught we did.

OK so you were covered under the insurance from his old job? But that has now expired and he elected not to get new insurance?

I ask because if you do not qualify for medicaid (which I'm thinking you don't for some reason?) then the only option I can think of COBRA. It's unlikely that your husband's work will let him start the insurance before their next open enrollment period (january?) unless he gets someone to pull strings. There are no words for how absolutely furious I would be in your situation.

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by D_McG

OK so you were covered under the insurance from his old job? But that has now expired and he elected not to get new insurance?

I ask because if you do not qualify for medicaid (which I'm thinking you don't for some reason?) then your only option is probably COBRA.

His old job insurance will be cancelled next week. His boss is paying him until the 20th so that is why we have a few days left with it although his last day was July 25th. How does COBRA work, since he declined his new job insurance.

[SleeplessMommy]

Originally Posted by dex_millie

His old job insurance will be cancelled next week. His boss is paying him until the 20th so that is why we have a few days left with it although his last day was July 25th. How does COBRA work, since he declined his new job insurance.

First, call the existing insurance (the number on the back of the card) and ask for the COBRA costs and paperwork. They will dorp them in the mail to you or fax the info. This needs to be done first thing Monday morning (or sooner if the insurance is about to lapse) COBRA will be expensive, but a hospital c-section in PA is $34K (or more ... that was from about 2002) Obviously you hope to avoid the c-section.

Next, call the current employer (you not DH) explain your DH made a mistake, you DO need insurance. Beg. This option, if you can get it, will be less expensive than COBRA.

Finally, look at the low income programs in MD.

In any case, the hospital is required to provide emergency treatment to you if you show up in labor and uninsured. Be very sure NOT to give the a credit card.

Best wishes!!