Our Cobra runs out the end of July.

[lmunchkin]

Guess what?  Johns cobra runs out the end of July.  He won't have secondary insurance and I wont be insured at all.  Now on top of all my hours, Ive got to find insurance for him and myself.  My employer does not provide Medical due to it being a small business.

Guess I better be prepared to spend money that I have very little of.  Im more worried about his than Iam mine.  He has Medicare any suggestions on Supplements?

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[boswife]

dont you get insurance with his disability??  I thought we all did...no?  I know theres' a waiting period, but i almost thought that was waived with kidney failure... 

[MooseMom]

I have no idea, but it's terrible to have financial worries on top of everything else.  I would love to know the answers to your questions.  I hope someone will come along who can advise you. 

What does his social worker say?

[lmunchkin]

Yea he has medicare with his disabilty and BC/BS through his group ins when he left the company, which we have been paying out of pocket for.  Now is Cobra (group) will end the end of July which has been his 2ndary and my primary.  He still has the medicare A&B but not M'care D for prescriptions. BC/BS paid our prescriptions for us.  BC/BS will stop at end of July under the group plan, now we will pay fully for our coverage.

If I get a supplement for him with a company w/part D, Im going to SW to see about getting AKF to pay his premiums.  This insurance crap is Ridicoulously "unaffordable".  We will have to have help with it!

lmunchkin

[Bill Peckham]

You might be eligible for a COBRA conversion plan.  This is an individual policy through the same insurance company that provided your COBRA coverage.
 
You might be eligible for a HIPAA plan which gives you the right to an individual health insurance plan without pre-existing conditions exclusions or limitations.
 
If you have pre-existing conditions or need on going medical treatment you may qualify for a state risk plan.  For more information visit www.naic.org

Your state may offer a Mini-COBRA which allows you to keep the continuation plan for another 18 months.  Mini-COBRAs are not offered in every state.  Again visit www.naic.org to see if your state has one available.

[lmunchkin]

Bill, its funny you say that, cause come to find out that had John applied for extention within 60 days of Disability approval, he could have had it extended another 18 months on his group plan.  But the trick was the first 60 days of being declared disabled, well here we are months later and we cant get it extended!

I went back to when we started Cobra, and sure enough, it says if declared disabled to file for an extendion within 60 days.  I never read through any of it, I just paid the premiums when bill came in!  I blame myself for this, but as in general, we will have to pay!

Any more bad news out there for me, bring it on!  I quite frankly don't care as long as he gets his treatments.

God Bless,
lmunchkin 

[smcd23]

You can go online now and file for Medicare Part D for the first month he is without the COBRA. The COBRA is considered "comparable coverage" so he won't be penalized. You may just have to show them proof that you had the COBRA this whole time, which you would have with the letter, but I don't think we had to do that when we signed up for Part D.

Then you will probably need a Medi-gap plan. I know we had to get Plan F from BC/BS per the dialysis unit financial lady. When I called the agent he knew exactly what we needed and got us enrolled. Then the financial lady was able to get the AKF to pay for it for us. So if you can get all of that going, then you'd only have to worry about you. Would you qualify for state insurance by chance?

[lmunchkin]

Got an agent coming to our home with different options on supplementing Medicare and guess what guys?  The place I have worked since 1999, is going to pay my medical premiums for me!  I was thrilled to death.  GOD IS SO GOOD!  They are an awesome group of people, always have been and always will be. They saw a need and they did something about it!  How Blessed & Greatful Iam to be a part of such a company!  I was overwhelmed!

That took alot of pressure off us both, and trust me, we were very concerned.  Now, we will not need to ask the AKF for assistance.  They can concentrate on the needs of others, and there are alot out there, that can use their help.

Thanks guys, for listening & sharing with us, our real life concerns.  Another group, thay Iam very proud to be a part of!

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[cariad]

That's fantastic news, lmunchkin. I'm so happy for you! What an amazing employer you have, wish more were like them!

[boswife]

God is good    So happy for that stress off you...  so verry happy 

[lmunchkin]

Thanks guys!  I know they are a great bunch.  I pray God Blesses this business beyond their measure.  Iam not the first to have a need that they met, they have been helping others through different situations also.  They may not pay the best wages, but their generosity is amazing, thus the employees are very dedicated to them. I love them all, they are my family!

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[jshabanian]

Wow!  What an amazing employer. 

I am so glad to hear that your insurance concerns are taken care of .  We shouldn't have to worry about being able to get the medical care we need in this country.  What a shame that you had to worry so much and have that stress added to an already huge stress load. 

I have a constant fear in the back of my mind that our ins. will somehow go away I will be unable to afford treatments, co-pays and medications  We are so dependent on insurance to keep us alive.  Healthy people can never fully comprehend the worry that insurance instability causes many people in the US.  We need to make this stop and establish health care for everyone.