[doydie]

I have never had to think about it. When I was working as a nurse my employer had excellent insurance. My husband still works there so I still have it. But he willl be retiring in about 2 1/2 years. we can keep that insurance as a retiree but when the info came in the mail it said retiree/COBRA!!!!!! I had wondered why it was going to be over $1,000 a month. It was going to take my entire pension check just to keep us in insurance. So I am going to start looking to get on a different plan now. So, what kinds of insurance do you guys have. Will I have a problem with MS being a preexisting condition and what kind of costs am I looking at?

[susieq]

COBRA can be very expensive, but sometimes it's your only option. It will be hard finding a new plan on your own because of your pre-existing condition, and it will also be expensive. All the advice I've seen says to keep your COBRA as long as you can.

Are you on Social Security Disability? Then Medicare kicks in (after 2 years). At least that's something, but that won't help your husband, of course.

[greta]

Cobra is so expensive because your old company is no longer paying the portion of the premium that they did when you were employed - gives you a whole new appreciation for insurance costs, huh?! As long as you maintain continuous coverage you should be fine and they won't ding you for a pre-existing condition.

A lot of professional societies offer group insurance - so that would be one place to check. Not sure how old you are, but since DH is retiring could also check with AARP - they have quite an extensive insurance program.

[Dejibo]

There are many plans negotiated by the place of employment for the retiring employees. Call Human Resources of where your hubby works and ASK what the plan is for retirees and make sure to ask why you got a COBRA form.

If you are on Medicare, and both you and your hubby are retired, Medicare becomes your primary insurance.

when the hubby was working my Blue Cross came first and it covered tons of stuff! now that he is retired and medicare is at the head of the list, I am so limited on so many things! its stinks!

make some phone calls BEFORE he retires. get those duckies in a row.

[doydie]

Yes, I am on SSD and have been on Medicare since 2001. My husbands insurnace has always been primary. I was jsut wondering if anyone had Anthem, Humana, AARP, or any other policies and could tell me how they are.

[Gary]

I have Humana (medicare) no complaints to date. they have been helpful anytime I have called.

My wife drives a school bus the last month she had me on her ins she worked all month for a net pay check of $8.00 !!!!

I worked for the state of Oregon and the COBRA was a joke by the time they added on the carrying charges and processing fees it was over $1,200 a month. I had taken a promotion the year before I got sick and management didn't have the same package as union employees did.

As a side note the disability policies that I had payed into for 20 years pay nothing when you draw SS as I was approved the 3rd month they never paid anything out. They have a 3 month waiting period.

[Jappy]

Originally Posted by doydie

Yes, I am on SSD and have been on Medicare since 2001. My husbands insurnace has always been primary. I was jsut wondering if anyone had Anthem, Humana, AARP, or any other policies and could tell me how they are.

Doydie I am also on SSD. When my DH was alive we had health Ins.
through the State. He was employed with them for 28 years. They paid the
premiums. When he passed away I was offered to join the group and that
I could keep the same ins. we had. I did that and it costs me $391.00 a month.

I had to cut a lot of corners to afford to pay that. But, when I checked around on the other ins. co. a lot of them do no accept people that
have a serious pre-ex health problem. Some of them did not cover expences
as the one we had. Cobra was one of them that I would not sign up for. It
may be good for others but it did not cover enough for my problems.

I have Horizon Blue/cross Blue/shield.

Hope you find something that is affordable for you and your husband
and that it will cover all of your problems with the ms.

Jappy