No medical insurance, I have a chronic condition. Any ideas?

[blondeatlast]

Guaranteed we make too much for Medicaid, unless we get a divorce and I count only my own income.

I hope it's temporary; we have pretty good coverage through my hubby's work, but they say he missed the enrollment deadline (They are clearly wrong, but if we cause a stink, they'll make us wait even longer).

Help?!

[RBitt]

1. deadline

If you are right and you made the open enrollment deadline, you don't need to cause a stink, you need to keep at it, ask for names, ask for the supervisors and then ask for the next level of supervisors. If you stay at it , you'll get through,. Get names and the direct line phone numbers.
Two thing to remember:
Don't swear and don't raise your voice. The longer you can keep them on the phone, the better. I've been through this and I win. but it takes time and a saintly amount of patience.

[FloridaPat]

2. OK, a little far out, but they have a good reputation for doing the

impossible:

http://www.quantumtouch.com/
http://www.innersource.net/

I don't have insurance either, and have had good results with both of these.

[blondeatlast]

3. I've been on insulin for 38 years. I don't disregard such practice

out-of-hand, but I do know the insulin works. Thanks for the idea, though.

[prolesunited]

4. Sorry, but that's not real medicine

As to the OP: And I would stick to your guns on meeting the deadline.

What proof of compliance can you provide? And they can't deny you coverage based on your speaking up. That would be illegal. Just make sure you document everything and take lots of notes.

When would be the next period you would be eligible. Hope you can get it worked out.

[MidwestMomma]

5. How were you covered prior to this new coverage?

Is this new coverage you were enrolling for? What was your prior plan? Did your husband's company change plans or something?

Don't mean to be nosy...just trying to help figure something out. :)

[blondeatlast]

6. Same plan, just had to re-enroll.

The kicker in this is that he just turned down another offer with excellent benefits, but we would have had to relocate.

He's an IT contractor, fwiw.

[MidwestMomma]

7. When's the next enrollment period?

Are we talking a year, a month?

I know we have to enroll every year I my work too. I'll look tomorrow at our plan and see what happens if you miss the deadline. Do they have to offer him COBRA since he's not longer covered under the plan?

I know there are short-term medical plans you can get but I don't know if they satisfy the definition of continous coverage as far a pre-existing condition is concerned.

I'm pretty sure that as long as no more than 63 days lapse between the termination of one group plan and the start of another, then pre-ex shouldn't apply.

Gawd, insurance companies and their red-tape! (I work in the industry and it drives me bonkers!!!)

[yellowdogintexas]

9. 63 days is correct.

Individual plans can screw around with you but if it is a group, and you get on within 63 days, they can't pre ex you.

strange the reenrollment did not go through?
did he re enroll on line, and did he print confirmation?
or get an email back?

turn it in to a supervisor who didn't turn it over in time?

[shesemsmom]

8. Cause the stink

You can't afford to be without it. You'd never get HILL_Burton with any income and forget indigent care. Fight them all the way and make the pay for anything done while you were *uninsured*