Political & Elections

^^^That's a Negative Ghostrider- We're going to the Little Sisters of the Poor! We have very young children, no plans on going south anytime soon.
P.S.Where we live everyone and anyone goes on the state when funds are depleted. Should it ever come to that.  My handful will not be saddled. Don't you worry your pretty or handsome self about us!!!  

longprime wrote:

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so I'm looking at the various Medicare Plans (half of this unit will be 65 in 2012). If you haven't, you should. 

So have you bought your LTC policy yet? and if you have, what do you think the solvency of that insurance company? 

A clue-our LTC policy bought 10 years ago (mid 50's, and average coverage) is more than the most comprehensive medicare plan. 

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 Nope......I'm not that close to 50, lol & we still have nearly 2 decades of tution payments ahead of us. That's our priority at this point.

-- Edited by CelticClan07 on Friday 14th of October 2011 04:12:16 PM

so I'm looking at the various Medicare Plans (half of this unit will be 65 in 2012). If you haven't, you should. 

So have you bought your LTC policy yet? and if you have, what do you think the solvency of that insurance company? 

A clue-our LTC policy bought 10 years ago (mid 50's, and average coverage) is more than the most comprehensive medicare plan. 

Sign up for Medicare Advantage (C) is Oct 15-Dec 7. Rates and Coverages available now.

Signup for Medicare Gap (Supplement) (F,K, N) are yet tentative and rates are expected by Nov. 

So which is "better," Advantage or Gap?

All of the insurance companies asked for health history going back 5 years.  

By the way, I was informed by an agent that if they find out there are any discrepancies, they can not only drop you, but prosecute you if you go to another doctor for up to 2 years after seeing a doctor for the same recurring illness.

Disclose everything if they ASK for it.  Don't volunteer for anything outside of what they ask for.  Some insurance didn't care.

You can even google what are "automatic rejections" for health insurance.  I think that is what I used to find out if bronchitis or GERD would disqualify me.  My rate is slightly higher for the GERD on Blue Cross, but it wasn't an automatic rejection from them.

It's all about the time since last occurrence and how frequently it happens.  For people like highoverhead and myself with this bronchitis - it is treatable.  What happens if you had to be hospitalized for it.

You might be dinged on the price, but most of the plans will then readjust after 6 months.  The key is getting on a policy, from what I found.  

It seems like it would be impossible to qualify a family for any plan, due to pre-existing conditions, where everyone has something, no matter how minor. Even though I find it almost impossible to lie, I think if I knew I was going to be in the situation where I was searching for insurance, I would do this. Establish a new doctor, don't forward your records from your old doctor. Claim to have no prior conditions other than an occasional cold or sinus infection. Nothing. Then apply for the new insurance. After accepted and on the plan, go back to the old doctor. Problem solved. Or will they actually go back and try to investigate later on? People who are overall healthy shouldn't have such a problem finding decent insurance, at a reasonable rate.

Right now I have H and me both on COBRA, but he is Medicare eligible, so, technically, I could just pay COBRA for myself.  It is horribly expensive, but much less so than 5 years ago when I had COBRA for 4 of us.....  

I will definitely start shopping way in advance and appreciate the info.  It is very frightening.  I am willing and able to really lower my salary expectations for my next position, but do need the benefits. 

Thanks.  I am only in my 2nd month of COBRA (my former employer pays for 6 months) and our financial advisor told us to keep COBRA instead of getting an individual plan since it is such good coverage.  So I have some time, and, if I don't get a job by then I have a lot more problems than just insurance.....  

You confirmed one of my fears, though. I have had broncitis about once a year (easily treated with an antibiotic and inhaler), but I know everything you have can be used against you.  I was denied long term disability coverage (missed the auto enroll period) at first because of an "unresolved knee problem".  I called them up, told them I was a sponsored runner and had run 5 marathons that year.  The woman laughed, said if I got a note from the orthopedist they would reverse the decision- and they did.  They had not even bothered to check with the orthopedist- just saw a notation on the internist's records that I had a knee surgery.

highoverhead,

I was rejected from Aetna.  So was my son who has a history of Asthma, even though he hasn't had any issues in years.

I was rejected from Kaiser for having had Bronchitis more than once in two years, plus GERD.  Everyone else was accepted.

I finally got a Blue Shield plan through, of all things, Tonik.  Tonik is their hip kids just out of college plan.  It was actually fairly affordable and would cover my issues, but the deductable was about $2500.  Certain well women preventative exams covered.  I never actually filed a claim while  I had it.  My H got a job with immediate medical coverage about 4 months after buying the plan.

If you or your friend are looking, make sure you give yourselves lots of time to get a new plan.  It takes time to get the applications done and then to find out whether you are approved or not.  

COBRA is really just a temporary plan.  I honestly thought looking 3 months before COBRA ran out for us would be plenty of time to get a new affordable plan. How wrong I was!   I was sweating it up until nearly the deadline and figured I would be completely uninsured.  

Going cash is an option, which is what I'm thinking about for DW (64.5yo). I figure cash plus the major medical 6 month,  temp ins. 

We are in a transition phase as with the new health programs. And as always things can be improved. 

The example for my situation with prostate condition, where continuation insurance is impossible to do. But the Medical Insurance Pool is cheaper than privately purchased insurance But again the Medical Ins Pool is still very expensive for a family making average pay (gross income ~$48K/yr family wage) 

Why are you using out-of-network medical?

Thanks to PBO, Reid and Pelosi, our monthly costs with Aetna have nearly DOUBLED!!!!!! Our out of network deductible increased to 5k, but we haven't used any of it and it's Oct. We are a very healthy family, sick visits here and there and kids physicals only, thank God. Heck even hubby and me are skipping physicals and I've never had a mammogram since it's a elective screening costing $400+ toward our 5k deductbile. Their grand plan for healthcare is keeping people from seeking care because of exorbitant costs, caused by their grand plan. Thanks guys, thanks alot.

Late last night, 10pm, DW calls me while I'm at mom's (95) and asks me where/who/what/why/howcome,  is taking $1000+ from her checking account? 

me: "IDK. Its your checking account."

her: [in so many silence moments, I should know]

me: so tell me what does the statement say?

her: [tells me, but its meanless to me]

me: I'll look at it tomorrow, after I take mom to breakfast. 

her: [she hangs up] 

She goes to her bank this morning, without me (thankyou, Almighty) and discovers that its the company handling her COBRA, since August its been $1000+ and up from $550/mn. She calls me after my errands and on my way back to mom's...

her: should we call them (benefit company)

me: it's 3pm, and they are East Coast.

her: [that silence again]

me: I'll see you tonight when my sister comes to stay with mom. 

her: [she hangs up]

Me: sigh. Another grand gone. I'm trying to figure out another 3.5 years of HI, with a disqualifing history.