[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.

[doydie]

Gary, did you get Humana after your dx?

[Dejibo]

The reason I say that is..

When my husband retired, even though HE has a great insurance policy, the moment HE retired, Medicare went to the front of the line! as long as he was working, HIS insurance came first. It ticked me off!

Part of my company's policy was to PAY for my Medicare premimums, but since I didnt know that, I paid for my own for a full year, before I found out. It took a big fight to be re imbursed for that.

Many companies have many different directions that the insurance policies go into once you or your husband retire. Please make an appointment to sit and talk with human resources to make sure you know what will or will not be able to happen once he steps away from his job. it will save you alot of grief later on.

[NurseNancy]

i've been paying cobra premiums for 29 months.
ouch!

i'll be eligible for medicare in a few months. i need to decide whether to accept plan A/B with a Rx plan or to sign up with an HMO.
i've been a nurse 37 yrs and the thought of an HMO makes me sick.

altho my dr says that they're not too bad. she said you need to look at the general picture in terms of co-pays and especially med costs. i don't know that i'm convinced. i still like the idea of going where i want and to whom i want.

AARP is an HMO (united healthcare). that's the only way you'll get into a group with a pre existing such as MS. and, even they can reject you.

good luck. i hope i can learn something from your thread.

[MizBarbie]

We are currently on COBRA until 12/08. We pay $750/month for medical and vision. After that we'll switch to a private plan under the same company - probably for more money and less coverage.

If you have a means to get on a group plan, I think that that is the way to go. The coverage levels are so much better because the groups can get plans that individuals don't have access to.

I did some reading on the subject when we started COBRA. As long as you've had continuous coverage, there's no waiting period for pre-existing conditions such as MS. However, companies can still refuse to take you. Each time you are refused, you get "flagged" as a poor candidate; apparently the next company you apply to can see that flag in "the system". The best bet is to check into an insurance broker who knows the different insurers and can direct you to ones that will take you.

IMO, people with chronic illness should maintain their own coverage if at all possible, even if your work provides insurance. Have them both, in that case - but keep your own.