grief
by rantywoman
It’s been a weepy morning. I’m pretty sure Cobra won’t cover me in another state and no health insurance company will insure me due to a pre-existing condition (which was likely brought on by the stress of my job). I was given the hard sell– multiple phone calls– about limited health insurance plans, but financially, it seems like it would be far less expensive to go without health insurance altogether. But then, unless I get insurance from a job, I may not be able to qualify again due to lapse in coverage.
It’s maddening. I’ve been crying for a few hours straight.
thebitterbabe 
I am confused– one can not sign up for health insurance if one was not previously covered?
So sorry for your current problems— would Obama care be helpful to you? Can you get disability?
On another note– consider a lonely Canadian widower!
I would marry a lonely Canadian widower in a heartbeat, if I could find one.
Supposedly, under Obamacare, in 2014 I can get major medical insurance with a pre-existing condition, but one company told me “if you can afford it.” So I don’t know how high the rates will be. There may be a state-funded option, but that may only be for the super-low-income? I really don’t know (I’ll likely be unemployed but I do have assets). Also, my tax advisor told me I will get penalized on my taxes if I don’t have health insurance in 2013, but I think that doesn’t kick in until 2014. If it’s this year, that will doubly suck for me, seeing as I CAN’T GET IT.
Also, I don’t think I can get disability because, ironically, I’m in great shape.
Here’s a little more info on what I’m facing (http://www.insure.com/articles/healthinsurance/cobra-tips.html)
3. If you move outside your COBRA health plan’s coverage area, you effectively “lose” your COBRA benefits.
Let’s say you lose your job in New York and decide to seek new employment in Texas. You can still enroll in COBRA, but it’s not going to do you any good unless you intend to fly to New York every time you need medical treatment or a prescription. Many health insurance plans require that you use their local provider networks. Your employer is not required to offer you a plan in your new area.
4. You must pay all of your health insurance premiums under COBRA.
Cost is a major factor to consider when buying COBRA coverage. By law, you can be charged 100 percent of the plan’s premiums, plus up to a 2 percent administrative fee.
Fortunately, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 now provides qualified COBRA participants with a 65 percent federal subsidy to pay their COBRA premiums for up to 15 months. For more details on premium assistance, read know your COBRA rights.
5. COBRA can be used to protect your health insurance rights under the federal HIPAA law.
If you plan to skip COBRA — because it’s expensive or you’re hoping to find another job that offers group health insurance — think again. Consider what could happen if your job search drags on longer than you expect, you’re diagnosed with a chronic or serious illness or if you’re a woman who becomes pregnant. If you create a gap in your health insurance of more than 63 days, you’ll lose your health insurance rights under the federal HIPAA law.
HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guarantees that people who have continuous health coverage — without a gap of more than 63 days — can’t have their pre-existing conditions excluded when they join a new group health plan. So if you forgo COBRA and wind up with a three-month gap in coverage, you would lose your HIPAA protection when you later get new group health insurance. Here’s more about HIPAA: Your rights to health insurance portability.
I’ve heard natural health has success with autoimmune issues. I read in the China Study that a plant based diet really dials it down. Might want to look into it.
Ranty, I know that in my state there is insurance for people who are unable to get coverage elsewhere, for whatever reason. I think if you call the state insurance commissioner for your state, they can let you know if there is an option like that for you. It might be called _HIP which stands for: the first initial of your state, Health Insurance Program.
Ranty-thank you for the valuable information regarding insurance.