What Type of Insurance Should I Get?
Having continuous coverage is most relevant when you are moving to a different group health insurance policy and do not want a waiting period or exclusion placed on a pre-existing medical condition, such as pregnancy. In some cases, enrolling in a short-term health plan may not fill the gap for continuous coverage because not all insurance companies give credit of coverage to these types of policies. The safest way to assure you that you do not have a lapse in coverage is to accept your COBRA option. If this is not financially possible for you, the state of Florida has Medicaid programs to assist pregnant women in obtaining state assisted health care. Here is a link to their website http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/medicaid.shtml. If you enroll in a state-assisted program, make sure to ask if these programs are considered “creditable coverage” by all insurance companies in your state. 1 CommentLeave a comment |
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I was insured under Aetna. Then my CEO let me go after he found out I was pregnant. If I am under COBRA, which shows continuity, would I still be eligible for any other short-term/temporary insurance options if I applied?
If you are currently pregnant, you do not want to be considering a short term health plan. Firstly, they are not likely to accept your application. Eligibility for short-term health insurance coverage is not based on the continuity of your prior health insurance. These types of policies are not considered “guaranteed issue” policies, which mean that they can decline your application based on a pre-existing medical condition. We are not familiar with the application guidelines for all short-term health insurance companies. However, the ones that we are aware of will decline your application if you are pregnant at the time of applying. If it is possible to make your COBRA payment, you are best off staying with that coverage until after the baby is born. At that time, you may be able to qualify for an individual health plan to insure both yourself and the newborn child.
I am also pregnant and I want to switch jobs, but because I am pregnant I am afraid to do so. How does COBRA work for me? I am due in September, but I absolutely can’t stand my job, in fact I hate it! I need to keep my health insurance and I doubt that I would be able to get individual insurance when I am pregnant. I don’t even know if a new company would hire someone who is pregnant. And I would probably not be able to get health insurance anyway as a new employee. Can you tell me about this COBRA thing and what it would mean for someone in my situation. Is it expensive?
Comment by Yolanda — June 29, 2009 @ 3:35 am